Aluminum in circle economy – from waste through hydrogen energy to alumina – AliCE-Why

The project seeks to develop technological solutions for use of aluminium waste application on electricity generation using hydrogen produced after (waste) aluminium-water reaction. Reaction by-product can be further recycled back to Al via carbon free electrolysis. Moreover, by-product can be used as a precursor for other valuable materials production.

Description:

Currently, waste management and energy production are recognized as essential field for world sustainability assurance. Aluminium (Al) is a very important strategic material in Europe with wide variety of application areas. Unfortunately, this invokes huge amount of waste Al generation. Despite that part of waste Al is recycled, there are plenty of landfilled Al, which pollutes environment. Therefore, during this project, we will initiate scientific and engineering activities revealing innovative ways for waste Al application on electricity generation using hydrogen produced after waste Al-water reaction. Obtained reaction by-product can be further recycled back to Al via carbon free electrolysis. Also, by-product can be used as a precursor for other valuable materials production. All the mentioned processes will be realized as a prototype. The project will involve: investigation of the waste Al treatment for hydrogen production (Lithuanian Energy Institute); analysis of generated hydrogen gas purity (Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (ISSP)); recycling of produced reaction by-product to Al and/or other useful materials (Innovation Center Iceland); evaluation of techno-economic and environmental impact of proposed process on Iceland and Baltics (University of Iceland), prototype design (coordinated by Latvian team). The project Consortium consists of four partners with main tasks mentioned above, which will ensure close cooperation and successful project realization.

Project results will create new knowledge and connections within the consortium that will open new possibilities for future projects and directly results will create a possible solution for decreasing waste and increasing clean energy production.

Project no.: EEA-RESEARCH-92

Total project financing: 800 000.00 €

Coordinator – Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (Latvia)
Partners:
University of Iceland (Iceland)
Innovation Center Iceland (Iceland)
Lithuanian Energy Institute (Lithuania)

Keywords: waste-to-resource, hydrogen, circle economy, aluminium recycling.