In a significant development for the greening of magnesium production, Latrobe Magnesium Limited has achieved a successful commissioning of the first phase of its demonstration plant.
Latrobe Magnesium’s patented hydromet process has enabled the world’s first production of environmentally friendly magnesium oxide (MgO) from fly ash, a waste byproduct of brown coal power generation.
Latrobe Magnesium’s world-first hydrometallurgical extraction/thermal reduction technology is the only one capable of extracting magnesium from brown coal fly ash and similar waste materials. This low-emission process converts nearly 100 per cent of the waste into valuable products, including:
- Magnesium Oxide (MgO)
- Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) for concrete
- Silica
- Char
- Iron Oxide
- Agricultural Lime (Calcium Carbonate)
The process not only reduces production costs for magnesium and cement but also boasts a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional methods, and creates no additional waste products.
The demonstration plant is currently producing MgO, with saleable magnesium metal expected in the coming months. This paves the way for a bankable feasibility study and financing discussions for a larger 10,000-tonnes-per-annum Stage 2 commercial plant, already 100 per cent pre-contracted. The engineering principles will be similar, with larger-scale equipment.
Latrobe Magnesium CEO David Paterson said: “We are incredibly proud of the results from our demonstration plant and the achievement of MgO production.
“The world’s first flow sheet using a hydromet process is a testament to our technology, our staff and contractors involved in the process to date.
“As the only new Western producer, the importance of Latrobe Magnesium’s production is globally significant, and this achievement validates our patented hydrometallurgical technology and years of research and development to get to this stage.”
