The 5th progress meeting of the HAlMan project took place in the beautiful setting of Greece, hosted at NTUA’s and METLEN’s facilities.
On the first day, we discussed potential raw materials for the HAlMan processes, as well as results from lab-scale activities, including hydrogen reduction of different manganese ores, aluminothermic reduction of pre-reduced ores and discarded slag, and the leaching of the produced CaO-Al₂O₃-rich slag. The discussions also addressed the extraction of CRM from the slag and the modeling of the various steps. Later, we had the opportunity to visit NTUA’s laboratories and learn about their pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical research activities. In the evening, the HAlMan team took a bus to Arachova to enjoy a delicious Greek dinner amidst the picturesque mountains, a 2.5-hour drive north of Athens.
On the second day, METLEN welcomed the HAlMan team to their plant, where we toured the Bayer process, the aluminum smelter, and, most notably, the pilot facility where the HAlMan slag will be leached and CRM will be recovered from the leached slag. Following the well-organized and inspiring tour, discussions resumed, focusing on the upcoming pilot trials in 2025, including pre-reduction, aluminothermic smelting, and leaching. Additionally, we discussed product validation, business case opportunities, environmental assessments, and forthcoming dissemination and communication activities.
A heartfelt thank you to NTUA and METLEN for the excellent organization of the meeting and to all HAlMan partners for their enthusiasm, inspiring discussions, and the great progress we have achieved together during the first two years of the project.
Take a glimpse into our meeting and visit the MELTEN plant.
