Completed Innovative Microwave Bench Equipment for Carbon Neutrality in Metal Smelting and Mining

Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd.

Microwave Chemical Co.,Ltd. (“MWCC”) has completed a standard bench equipment at MWCC’s demonstration facility in Osaka (Suminoe-ku, Osaka City) in March 2024, which is capable of handling high-temperature calcination and reaction of ores in the metal smelting/mining process using microwaves.

■ About this standard bench equipment
This equipment, developed to reduce CO2 emissions and improve thermal efficiency, replaces the traditional steps in the metal smelting process—such as calcination, roasting, and reduction of ores, which involve burning fossil fuels and emitting significant amounts of CO2—with a microwave process powered by electricity. Since this equipment has been designed and developed independently by MWCC, it can be implemented in various projects going forward. The main features are as follows:

●　It can process a variety of ores.
●　It is applicable to a wide range of processes including reduction, calcination, roasting, and drying.
●　It achieves a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and energy savings through improved thermal efficiency.

■ Background of Development

The metal smelting and mining industries, as exemplified by the processing of lithium and the smelting of nickel, as well as, steel production, consume large amounts of fossil fuels and emit significant levels of CO2, making reduction of these emissions a critical issue. In response, MWCC has positioned the electrification of smelting/mining processes using microwaves as a top priority within our carbon-neutral business strategy, and we have developed a microwave technology platform for mining process called ‘Green Mining-MX’. Against this backdrop, MWCC has been focusing on developing a new standard bench equipment that can operate continuously even under high temperature conditions of 1000℃.

■ Future Developments

This equipment has already begun operation and is progressing with temperature-raising tests on multiple ores. Utilizing this equipment can shorten the initial evaluation time, which is expected to accelerate projects. Going forward, we are committed to advancing demonstration development using this device, aiming to implement microwave processes across the smelting and mining sectors. We are dedicated to realizing this innovative technology’s potential in transforming industry practices.