Preliminary Techno-Economic Considerations of the Sisal Process - Closing Materials Loops through Industrial Symbiosis

11 Pages Posted: 23 May 2022

See all articles by Harald Philipson

Harald Philipson

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Kjell Blandhol

Elkem

Krister Engvoll

Elkem ASA

Veronika Djupvik

Elkem ASA

Maria Wallin

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Gabriella Tranell

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Torstein Haarberg

BNW-Energy

Date Written: April 6, 2022

Abstract

The SisAl process utilizes secondary raw materials such as aluminium (Al) scrap and aluminium dross as replacements for the carbon reductants used in today’s SAF-based metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) process, avoiding direct CO2 emissions and other pollutants. The SisAl concept proposes that the aluminium industry can act as both a supplier of secondary Al and end user of the MG-Si produced by the SisAl process in the silicon (Si) industry, enabling a new industrial symbiosis model. Norway is the largest producer of both silicon and aluminium in Europe ('USGS' 2021), and the SisAl concept hence represents an opportunity for resource-efficient industrial growth and circularity for Norwegian Si and Al industries. The first pilot scale results from the Horizon 2020 project SisAl Pilot are presented, illustrating the potential for making MG-Si at 98% purity by first producing an Si-Ca-Al alloy through aluminothermic reduction of calcia-silica slag followed by refining of the alloy using slag sculls. Economic considerations coupled to the technical pilot results and beyond are discussed.

Keywords: silicon, alumina, industrial symbiosis, industrial transformation

Suggested Citation

Philipson, Harald and Blandhol, Kjell and Engvoll, Krister and Djupvik, Veronika and Wallin, Maria and Tranell, Gabriella and Haarberg, Torstein, Preliminary Techno-Economic Considerations of the Sisal Process - Closing Materials Loops through Industrial Symbiosis (April 6, 2022). Proceedings of the Silicon for the Chemical & Solar Industry XVI - ISBN 978-82-692919-0-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4116381 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4116381

Harald Philipson (Contact Author)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Trondheim NO-7491
Norway

Kjell Blandhol

Elkem ( email )

Norway

Krister Engvoll

Elkem ASA ( email )

Norway

Veronika Djupvik

Elkem ASA ( email )

Norway

Maria Wallin

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Trondheim NO-7491
Norway

Gabriella Tranell

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering ( email )

Trondheim NO-7491
Norway

Torstein Haarberg

BNW-Energy ( email )

Pirsenteret Havnegata 9
Trondheim Area, 7010
Norway

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