Project Overview

WP1: to identify relevant process parameters. To model over five synthetic metal solutions of representative STM effluent.
WP2: to remove 99.9% w/v oils/greases through PEF (pre-treatment) and desalination (MHD - Multistage humidification/dehumidification) as post treatment to achieve a rest-conductivity of maximum 18 µS/cm.
WP3: electrocoagulation/electro-precipitation and electrowinning process to recover over 80% of at least three different metals (Ni, Cu, Zn et al.) out of STM effluent. The purity of the metals will be > 99%.
WP4: to develop an electrooxidation unit to remove organic loading to a residual value of less than 1% rest-loading.
WP5: to enable the recovery and reuse of the hydrogen from WP3 and WP4 in a fuel cell stack as a power source for the process. 80% of hydrogen generated will be converted to energy in the fuel cell.
WP6: to integrate the single components (outcomes of WP2 to WP5) to a pilot scale system running at a 500 l/h flow-rate. Start-up, first testing phase and optimisation. To develop and to adapt a global control system including energy management.
WP7: to run integrated process demonstration at a feed rate of 500 l/h. Short-term and long-term trials will be run; to carry out additional tests under stressed conditions.
WP8: to make a verification using an approach based on ISO 14040 and 14044 (2006) of the economic and environmental sustainability of the process enabling a more resource efficient and recycling economy.
WP9: to exploit project results and to undertake a wider project dissemination to enable partners to maximise the commercialisation of results post-project.
WP10: to meet the requirements of the EC contract in full and on time.