Mining tailings management currently represent one of the major issues in all mining sites, such as those in Sulcis-Iglesiente and in the Balkans. One day of scientific meetings to discuss how to transform wastes from mining/metalurgical activities into major value products within a circular economy perspective. One day of matchmaking events to desiloing the expertise, competences and technologies to set up scientific/technical collaborations.

On April 23-24, 2017, the BlowUp team have visited the location of the pyrophyllite mine in Parsovići village near the Konjic city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mine is currently under the concession of the „Harbi“ company. The pyrophyllite is quite rare mineral and is interesting from many points of view. This company is focusing on it research as an additive in fertilization of the soil (BlowUp results show that it contains a lot of Mg, K, Ca and there is no measurable quantities of any toxic metal). Also one of the promising application is in SO2 adsorption, which is extremely important since Bosnia as numerous thermal plants and city heating systems which generate the sulphur dioxide. The principle is similar to that of lime, since pyrophyllite also contains a lot of Ca, therefore it generates the CaSO4 (a gypsum). BlowUp team is wondering how this waste material could be turned again into something even more useful.  

After the visit of the mine, the team had a seminar with the company and with the representatives from the famous “Vinča” institute from Belgrade who are testing the possibilities for application of pyrophyllite in hydrogen storage.

Photos of the mine on the day of the visit, photos with the “Harbi” company team, photos from the trial agricultural plant (testing of the pyrophyllite in agriculture) are shown below.

BloW UP 150

Balkans Waste to Products:

transfer of NoI model to Balkan area: de-siloing new waste-derived raw materials and developing new applications - RIS

GG SCITEC Logo 2 Colore

 Vladimiro Dal Santo

email: v.dalsanto@istm.cnr.it
Duration of project from 04/2017 to 03/2019

Supported by RM Academy EU H2020 Color v2

 

 

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