Closing the loop on zinc oxide - transforming foundation industry waste to value

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Nanomox has developed a cost-effective and sustainable metal oxidation method, Oxidative Ionothermal Synthesis (OIS), to produce advanced inorganic materials. This process uses ionic liquids (green solvents that can be readily recycled) at low temperatures (<120°C) for the direct oxidation of metals, such as zinc. Preliminary techno-economic and sustainability analyses demonstrate that this technique offers enormous improvements over existing technologies, achieving 97% energy reduction compared to conventional pyrometallurgical methods.The OIS process can recover value from metal-containing wastes, which opens the door to valorisation of metallic residues produced in steel manufacturing and galvanising industries (EAF dust, slags, dross, etc). Currently, any waste recovery is done through energy-intensive pyrometallurgical processes, which are not in line with Net Zero ambitions. Some of these wastes go to landfill, representing inefficient land use, economic loss, and negative environmental impacts due to metal leaching into the soil.Using the OIS process, Nanomox can produce bulk inorganic materials, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), in a sustainable fashion to meet the needs of foundation industries such as ceramics, glass, and rubber manufacturing. The OIS process can also produce advanced inorganic materials with controlled particle morphology, tailoring the quality to suit high-value applications. Products from this process will improve manufacturing sustainability and can lead to significantly improved performance and technologies.In this project, Nanomox will work with foundation industry partners to develop waste-derived ZnO materials that can create value for manufacturers in the ceramics, glass, and rubber sectors. By creating a new form of industrial symbiosis, the project will improve sustainability and profitability for the foundation industries, securing and creating jobs and long-term prosperity for the UK as a global leader in sustainable production of high-value additives and products.