The Non-ferrous Process Group (NFP Group) is primarily involved in research and development activities on the extraction of non-ferrous metals from primary and secondary resources.
Strategic Metals: Current activities include the production of magnesium from calcined dolomite using the electro-thermal route. The process has been demonstrated on a pilot-plant scale with a capacity to produce 50 kg of metal per day. Production of sodium and gadolinium through electrolysis of molten salts are other major areas where expertise has been developed on commercial scale of operation. Process for recovery of tungsten from tailings of gold mines and alloy scrap has been developed.
E-Waste: Know-how has been developed for the recovery of metals like Co, Cu, REEs, Au, Pt from mobile batteries and hard disk magnets. These are being tested on a pilot-plant scale at present.
Other Metals: Production of zinc from dross; non-ferrous metal powders; pigment-grade iron from industrial waste are some of the major areas where extensive work has been carried and know-how developed and transferred to industries.
Major Facilities
Facilities for lab to pilot scale operations in Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy/Electrometallurgy
High Temperature Vacuum Electric Resistance Furnace
Pilot Scale Rotary Kiln facility for Calcination
150 KVA Submerged-Arc Furnace
Electrolytic cells (lab to bench scale) for molten salt electrolysis processes
Pusher-type Tungsten Reduction Furnace
Autoclaves (various capacities)
Pilot-plant leaching facilities
Multi-stages mixer settler units for solvent extraction
Pilot Scale E-waste Recycling Facility @Urban Ore Recycling Center
Pilot Scale (High Vacuum-High Temperature) Electrothermal Process facility
Pilot Plant for Li-Battery Recycling
High Temperature-High Vacuum-Metal Distillation Facility
