Using Waste Plastics in the Production of Magnesium Abstract The objective of this project is to present the economic and environmental benefits of using waste plastics as a reducing agent in the thermal reduction process of magnesium production. The current process for magnesium production uses petroleum coke, an expensive reducing agent. Replacing petroleum coke with waste plastics not only reduces the cost of production, but also eliminates a large amount of waste plastics. Goals Propose new process of magnesium production Identify benefits of new process Suggest future implementation strategies References Ehrenberger, Simone, and Dr. H.E. Friedrich. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensities." Light Metal Age (2014): n. pag. The World Magnesium Association. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. Kotrba, Ron. "Power and Fuel From Plastic Wastes." Power and Fuel From Plastic Wastes. Biomass Magazine, 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. "Harry Potter and the Magic of Perspective (or How to Make Plastic Pollution Disappear)." <i>Brngit</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. <http://blog.brng.it/advocacy/harry-potter-and-the-magic-of-perspective-or-how-to-make-plastic-pollution- disappear/>. Das, Sujit. “Primary Magnesium Production Costs for Automotive Applications.” JOM 60.11 (2008): 63-9. Web. Chen, Hukui, Jianrui Lui, and Weidong Huang. "Characterization of the Protective Surface Films Formed on Molten Magnesium in Air/HFC-134 Atmosphere." Materials Characterization 58.1 (2007): 51-58. ScienceDirect. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. Acknowledgments We would like to thank our project advisor Dr. Brajendra Mishra Ph.D. for his assistance with our project, our PLA Steven Laudage, and our professors, Svetlana Nikitina Ph.D. and Diran Apelian Ph.D. We would also like to thank Shaymus W. Hudson and Aaron M. Birt for helping us conduct this experiment in the lab. Implementation Use HFC-134a as a cover gas rather than SF 6 Use a gravity separator and near-infrared spectroscopy to separate plastics from other solid waste Introduce new process to US Magnesium, the largest magnesium producer in North America Present process at 73rd Magnesium Conference being held in Rome in May 2016 Recommend as a possible MQP or GPS project for further research Madeline Burke, Morgan DeAngelis, Julia Dunn, Sabrina Napoli, Katie O’Donnell, Ali Valamanesh Advisors: Dr. Brajendra Mishra Peer Learning Advisor: Steven Laudage Environmental Benefits Cuts CO₂ emissions by eliminating the use of FeSi HFC-134a, a replacement for SF₆, reduces the global warming potential of the process Using oven gas in place of petroleum coke decreases overall CO₂ emissions Will reduce the amount of plastics left in our ecosystems Plastics Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2008 Proposed Process Currently, petroleum coke is used as a reducing agent in the thermal reduction of magnesium oxide to magnesium. It has been proposed that waste plastics can be used in place of petroleum coke in this reaction. Experimental Results In place of magnesium oxide, a mixture of other metal oxides was reacted with a mixture of plastics at 700°C for 15 minutes. The originally black metal oxide powder was observed to have turned brownish orange with a few bright and shiny particles, suggesting the presence of pure metals. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and metallographic analysis were preformed to confirm the presence of pure metals. Economics Using waste plastics instead of petroleum coke lowers production materials cost. This could lower the price of magnesium, making it a more competitive alternative to other metals such as aluminum. 0 0 $0.41 $0.17 $0.37 $0.37 $0.06 $0.06 $0.31 $0.31 $0.16 $0.16 $- $0.20 $0.40 $0.60 $0.80 $1.00 $1.20 $1.40 Price Breakdown of Magnesium Production by Thermal Reduction Other Labor Energy Capital Materials Current Costs Projected Costs Price Comparison of Magnesium and Aluminum Reactor
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Using Waste Plastics in the Production of Magnesium
AbstractThe objective of this project is to present the economic and environmental benefits of using wasteplastics as a reducing agent in the thermal reduction process of magnesium production. Thecurrent process for magnesium production uses petroleum coke, an expensive reducing agent.Replacing petroleum coke with waste plastics not only reduces the cost of production, but alsoeliminates a large amount of waste plastics.
Goals Propose new process of magnesium
production Identify benefits of new process Suggest future implementation strategies
References Ehrenberger, Simone, and Dr. H.E. Friedrich. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensities." Light Metal Age (2014): n. pag.
The World Magnesium Association. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. Kotrba, Ron. "Power and Fuel From Plastic Wastes." Power and Fuel From Plastic Wastes. Biomass Magazine, 2015. Web. 30
Nov. 2015. "Harry Potter and the Magic of Perspective (or How to Make Plastic Pollution Disappear)." <i>Brngit</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 04
Dec. 2015. <http://blog.brng.it/advocacy/harry-potter-and-the-magic-of-perspective-or-how-to-make-plastic-pollution-disappear/>.
Das, Sujit. “Primary Magnesium Production Costs for Automotive Applications.” JOM 60.11 (2008): 63-9. Web. Chen, Hukui, Jianrui Lui, and Weidong Huang. "Characterization of the Protective Surface Films Formed on Molten
Magnesium in Air/HFC-134 Atmosphere." Materials Characterization 58.1 (2007): 51-58. ScienceDirect. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank our project advisor Dr. Brajendra Mishra Ph.D.for his assistance with our project, our PLA Steven Laudage, and ourprofessors, Svetlana Nikitina Ph.D. and Diran Apelian Ph.D. We wouldalso like to thank Shaymus W. Hudson and Aaron M. Birt for helping usconduct this experiment in the lab.
Implementation Use HFC-134a as a cover gas rather than SF6 Use a gravity separator and near-infrared spectroscopy to separate plastics
from other solid waste Introduce new process to US Magnesium, the largest magnesium producer
in North America Present process at 73rd Magnesium Conference being held in Rome in May
2016 Recommend as a possible MQP or GPS project for further research
Madeline Burke, Morgan DeAngelis, Julia Dunn, Sabrina Napoli, Katie O’Donnell, Ali ValamaneshAdvisors: Dr. Brajendra Mishra
Peer Learning Advisor: Steven Laudage
Environmental Benefits Cuts CO₂ emissions by eliminating the use of FeSi HFC-134a, a replacement for SF₆, reduces the global warming potential
of the process Using oven gas in place of petroleum coke decreases overall CO₂
emissions Will reduce the amount of plastics left in our ecosystems
Plastics Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2008
Proposed ProcessCurrently, petroleum coke is used as a reducing agent in the thermalreduction of magnesium oxide to magnesium. It has been proposedthat waste plastics can be used in place of petroleum coke in thisreaction.
Experimental ResultsIn place of magnesium oxide, a mixture of other metal oxides was reacted with a mixture of plastics at 700°C for 15 minutes. The originally black metal oxide powder was observed to have turned brownish orange with a few bright and shiny particles, suggesting the presence of pure metals.
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and metallographic analysis were preformed to confirm the presence of pure metals.
EconomicsUsing waste plastics instead ofpetroleum coke lowers productionmaterials cost. This could lower theprice of magnesium, making it a morecompetitive alternative to other metalssuch as aluminum.
0 0
$0.41
$0.17
$0.37
$0.37
$0.06
$0.06
$0.31
$0.31
$0.16
$0.16
$-
$0.20
$0.40
$0.60
$0.80
$1.00
$1.20
$1.40
Price Breakdown of Magnesium Production by Thermal Reduction Other
Labor
Energy
Capital
Materials
Current Costs Projected Costs
Price Comparison of Magnesium and Aluminum
Reactor
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