THE ENVIRONMENT PROCESS; TOWARDS COMMERCIALIZATION: A DECADE OF GESTATION

摘要

The EnvIRONment process, invented by Prof.H.K.Worner and developed at the University of Wollongong,simultaneously treats ferruginous and organic wastes via bathsmelting. Conceived in the late 1980's, the patented process wasoriginally developed using steelworks dust to settle solids fromsewage, producing a composite material suitable for smelt reduction.Work began on the process in 1990 with the Australian patenthaving a priority date of February 1990. Early researchfocussed on settling of solids from sewage, whilepyrometallurgical investigations examined smelting in smallinduction furnaces. By 1992 smelting trials had been undertakenin pneumatic and electric arc furnaces, the process beingsuccessfiilly demonstrated up to on 8 tonne scale. The successof this particular trial, and other smaller trials, resulted inconstruction of a 100kg DC arc furnace which wascommissioned in 1993. By 1994 the main project focus was ondevelopment of the smelting technology.Over 3 years of trials on the DC arc furnace have identified andclarified many of the pyrometallurgical reactions, optimumoperating parameters, as well as demonstrating the versatility ofthe process for treating a wide range of wastes. Currently theIllawarra Technology Corporation (ITC), the commercial arm ofthe University of Wollongong, is pursuing commercialisation of the process.