Aussies develop eco-friendly magnesium production process
CSIRO and Enirgi Group have invented a low-emissions method for producing magnesiumA new means of producing magnesium for use in alloy wheels is claimed to require 80 per cent less energy, for 60 per cent fewer carbon-dioxide emissions.
Making the claim are the two collaborators, the CSIRO and Enirgi Group. To date, the new method, which involves carbo-thermal reduction and a supersonic nozzle, is yet to be commercialised. But the two partners are promoting it under the name MagSonic technology. In due course, Enirgi Group can take up the option of an exclusive global licence to build an industrial-scale commercial facility in Australia to produce magnesium using the new process.
Lightweight magnesium, which weighs 1738kg/m³ (versus 2560 for aluminium), is increasingly in demand by car manufacturers for use in automotive production. MagSonic brings production costs down and helps the environment.
The MagSonic process sees magnesia heated with carbon to extreme temperatures, which then produces magnesium vapour and carbon monoxide. Both vapour and carbon monoxide pass through the supersonic nozzle at Mach 4 (four times the speed of sound). This cools the two gases in a matter of milliseconds and the end product of the condensation and solidification is pure magnesium. According to the CSIRO, the supersonic nozzle resembles a rocket motor.
"The growth of magnesium use has been limited because it's been too expensive and labour-intensive to produce the metal from ore using traditional processes," says Dr Mark Cooksey.
"Our MagSonic technology offers an economically-viable solution to overcome these issues and make clean magnesium more available and affordable to manufacturers.
"We're delighted to be working with Enirgi Group as our technology and commercial partners, with their experience in developing new processes to disrupt and change industry dynamics."
Australia is blessed with large reserves of magnesium ore, making MagSonic a potentially lucrative development for the mining industry and the local parts manufacturing industry.
More and more that whole innovation idea seems to be taking root in this country.
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