Birmingham Metallurgical Association Lecture

Neil A. Rowson - University of Birmingham

The presentation will focus on work currently being carried out in the School of Chemical Engineering on the use of industrial waste materials as functional materials or sources of strategic metals.

A brief overview will be given on the recycling of coal fly ash deposits into a series of market focused materials (low density cenospheres, activated carbon and a chemically synthesised zeolite for waste water treatment) creating 3-sealable product streams from a waste material currently stockpiled worldwide.

A more detailed case study will be presented on lithium recovery from waste mineral resources in the UK. Lithium is highlighted as a strategically important metal to the UK due to its increasing application in electrical and battery technology as well as medical uses. The UK currently has no lithium extraction is technically challenging and complex.

A current industry/EPSRC research project in the School of Chemical Engineering is investigatind the processing of waste stockpiles from kaolin (china clay) mining operations in Cornwall to recover lithium rich micas which can then be concentrated and chemically treated to product a lithium carbonate product of resealable quality.

 A buffet will be available at 6.00pm

All are welcome