Glencore Technology Leads the Future of Secondary Copper Smelting with ISASMELT™ and ISACYCLE™
Brisbane, Australia
For immediate release
As the global demand for copper continues to grow and fuel the energy transition, long-range forecasts suggest that demand will continue to increase until 2050 and beyond.
With reduced expenditure on exploration and developing reserves, the static supply of copper over the coming decades will not keep pace with rising demand.
Consequently, copper production from secondary feed sources is one area of increasing importance.
Secondary copper smelting is a term that describes the recycling of copper-containing scrap and waste materials to produce copper. This process includes pre-treatment, smelting, alloying, and casting, and is essential to sustainable copper production.
With the significant investment in time and costs related to a smelter’s design, construction, and commissioning, organisations evaluating secondary copper smelting should engage with experienced specialists who can guide them and offer practical advice.
“There is no other technology company with more expertise in the full secondary copper smelting process than us,” said Glencore Technology Senior Metallurgist Dr Stuart Nicol.
“Glencore Technology, through our ISASMELT™ and ISACYCLE™ products, has industry-leading technology and unrivalled hands-on experience in smelting copper-containing scraps, wastes, and other secondary copper materials.”
“There are several advantages with the ISASMELT™ technology that allow our clients to be up and running faster and more consistently than less modern smelting options.”
Initial considerations are around the design and construction timing. The ISASMELT™ technology offers a proven, faster build and ramp-up period than other technologies, allowing smelters to be up and running sooner. Manufacturing using in-country workshops is another way we have found to speed up construction timing and reduce costs.
Operationally, the ISASMELT™ furnace offers more benefits. Our innovative and market-leading approach to secondary smelting is tested and successful at sites such as Aurubis Lünen.
Another major consideration is the smelter’s carbon footprint. Again, ISASMELT™ has substantial advantages in being the industry’s cleanest and most energy-efficient smelting technology.
“Our current project at Atlantic Copper really shows the benefits of ISASMELT™ and ISACYCLE™ being the cleanest and greenest option on the market for secondary copper smelting.
One recent innovation in this area combines the Glencore Technology ISACYCLE™ and OxiLeach™ solutions to support the cost-effective and efficient recycling of e-scrap and secondary copper from end-of-life products.
This process, patented by Glencore Technology for refining black copper via leaching, has proven successful and results in lower on-site metal inventory. This innovation is another critical step in increasing the financial viability of secondary smelters, particularly the smaller-scale operations.
“Importantly for our clients, all these advantages are backed by long-term support from world experts in copper metallurgy. We work to ensure our clients’ ongoing success.”
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Glencore Technology is a provider of innovative solutions for the global mining industry, including industry leading technologies such as IsaMill™, Jameson Cell, IsaKidd™, Albion Process™ and IsaSmelt™ and more.