Recycling and reuse of materials

In a global perspective, the reuse and recycling of materials have increased in importance the recent years due to several factors like shortage of some raw materials, the climate effects, and landfill restrictions

Savings in terms of energy and capital can be obtained along with reduced environmental impact. For example, production of aluminium slabs or ingots based on recycled metal consumes only about 5 % of the energy needed when using primary aluminium. SINTEF offers competence and have gained experience with many of the processing steps for recycling of materials like:

• sorting and separation of metals and inorganic materials;
• recovery of aluminium from dross and treatment of dross residues;
• development of recycling friendly aluminium alloys;
• recycling of SiC and silicon from slicing of silicon wafers for the photovoltaic (PV) industry;
• upgrading of demolished refractory lining for reuse in aluminium reduction cells.

Material loop with recycling as a central part

In addition we can offer equipment for remelting of metals in furnaces using either heat resistance, induction or plasma heating. SINTEF is operating the equipment and technology in close cooperation with our university partner NTNU (the Norwegian University of Science and Technology):
- on physical separation together with Dep. of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering
- on remelting together with Dep. of Materials Technology

Applications of this core competence

• Treatment of shredder fluff residues
• Processing of fluorescent tube waste
• Recycling of SiC and silicon from slicing of silicon wafers for the PV industry
• Recovery of aluminium from dross

SINTEF’s Contact person: Dr. Trond Bergstrøm