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MERIT metal recovery benefits from processing incinerator bottom ash

MERIT technology for
more recycled metals

Higher metal recovery from IBA processing

Operators of treatment plants who wish to increase their metal recovery rates as part of the recycling of incinerator bottom ash (IBA) can benefit from our experience as REMEX also offers the MERIT technology to third parties for use in their plants. Interested recycling companies can choose between different cooperation models. Below you will find an example of the increased efficiency by implementing MERIT.

For further questions regarding your individual partnering solution or a detailed offer for cooperation, please contact us.

Potential of non-ferro metals in incinerator bottom ash

REMEX processes more than 2 million tonnes of incinerator bottom ash (IBA) each year. The actual composition of the bottom ash is dependent from the incinerator plant and the source of the municipal solid waste. Experience tells us that incinerator bottom ash contains on average about 2 % of non-ferro (NF) metals.

The distribution of the bottom ash dependent on the grain size shows that 25 % of the non-ferro metals are smaller than 4 mm. In conventional processing plants, this percentage is not recovered because the necessary technology is missing.

MERIT optimises the recovery of the fraction size 2 ‑ 4 mm, which represents 15 % of NF metals.

Conventional metal recovery

The process diagram to the left demonstrates the standard approach which is taken in many processing plants for incinerator bottom ash. As part of the overall process, the material sized 0 ‑ 8 mm is sieved off, followed by a flip-flow sieve that separates the IBA at 4 mm. The pile 0 ‑ 4 mm is not processed further, thus, the included non-ferro metals are simply not recovered. Valuable resources are lost.

Increased resource efficiency by implementation of MERIT

MERIT and additional eddy-current separator

With the use of MERIT technology as an additional step before the flip-flow, the fines (size 0 ‑ 2 mm) of the incinerator bottom ash are separated from the fraction 0 ‑ 2 mm. The added value resulting from the recovery of the included non-ferro metals 2 ‑ 4 mm are presented in the following example:

_ Input quantity bottom ash: 100,000 t/a

_ Content of NF metals sized 2 ‑ 4 mm: 300 t/a

_ Efficiency of the NF metal processing: 75 %

_ Additional NF metal concentrates recovered: 225 t/a

MERIT as replacement for flip-flow sieve

With the use of MERIT technology as replacement for the flip-flow 4 mm, only the fines (0 ‑ 2 mm) of the incinerator bottom ash end up on the pile. The fraction 2 ‑ 4 mm including the non-ferro metals are separated and recovered. The resulting added value is shown in the following example:

_ Input quantity bottom ash: 100,000 t/a
_ Content of NF metals sized 2 ‑ 4 mm: 300 t/a
_ Efficiency of the NF metal processing: 60 %
_ Additional NF metal concentrates recovered: 180 t/a

Your are interested in our MERIT technology and a possible cooperation to realise higher non-ferro metal recovery rates in your processing plant? Just contact us – our experts will be in touch.