Green Mindset and a New Solution Formula

How the principles of «Green Economy» and «Green Mindset» are implemented in practice was shown by a team of innovators of BO and RC Beryllium Laboratory.

REFERENCE

«Green Mindset» initiative defines the directions for the development of environmental safety, energy conservation, development of employee thinking based on the green economy principles.

The innovation proposal «The Use of Nitric Acid Filtrate in the Process of Concentration and Washing of the Ermakovskoye Deposit Concentrate from Fluorine» has been successfully implemented. Liquid waste has been reduced. The authors were awarded the Degree 1 Diploma of the Competition for Innovation Activities for 2020 among employees of NAC Kazatomprom JSC in the nomination of the «Best Innovation Proposal within the Framework of the Green Mindset Initiative». Evgeniy Sokolov, Head of Workshop No.1; Erik Tazbulatov, Process Engineer, Hydrometallurgical Division (HMD), Workshop No.1; Evgeniy Dmitriyev, Process Engineer, Technological Group and Irina Shkarpetina, Research Engineer, Beryllium Laboratory, RC, were involved in this project.

In the long-term practical activities of the BO HMD aimed at the production of technical grade beryllium hydroxide, nitric acid solution and a calculated amount of aluminum hydroxide are used in the process of concentration and washing of the Ermakovskoye deposit concentrate from fluorine. It so happened historically that nitric acid solution with mass concentration of nitric acid of 140 to 160g/l was prepared according to a special formula: recycled water + 56% nitric acid.

By implementation of this innovation proposal HMD reduced liquid waste from the above process by 2,800m³ in 2020.

The use of non-concentrated nitric acid as a component is expensive. Following the principles of reducing emissions into the environment, the team of BO innovators proposed to change preparation formula of nitric acid solution during concentration and washing of the Ermakovskoye deposit concentrate from fluorine. Spent nitric acid solution (with an average mass concentration of nitric acid of 9g/l) was used in the production process. This solution is produced in the process of technical grade beryllium hydroxide at the stage of washing it from calcium impurity. It turned out that the filtrate from one operation was used for another. Industrial tests demonstrated that the solution met the specification for chemical composition, and all what then needed was to bring it to the required concentration of nitric acid of 140-160g/l and use it successfully. The effect of such replacement turned out to be double: both saving of expensive components and recycled water, and reduction of the amount of spent nitric acid filtrate (sludge) to be pumped out to the Tailings Facility.

Recycled water has practically ceased to be used and costs for the purchase of nitric acid and disposal of sludge at the Tailings Facility have been reduced. Savings for 2020 amounted to more than 8 million tenge.

The innovation proposal has been implemented since February last year. As a result HMD reduced liquid waste from the described process by 2,800m³ as early as by the end of 2020. In addition, an economic effect has been obtained. In fact, over 8 million tenge were saved in 2020, i.e. 2 million more than preliminarily estimated.

Evgeniy Dmitriyev:

– The idea to change formula came up at the beginning of 2017. During discussions by the Working Group of proposals for inclusion in the «Action Plan for Waste Management at UMP JSC and the Tailing Facility Operation» Evgeniy Sokolov and myself decided to try such replacement. I believe the result was excellent both in terms of financial saving and reduction of liquid waste from our production.

Formula change and innovation proposal introduction were preceded by diligent work of the team of authors and successful industrial tests. Everyone from the innovators group made a significant contribution. A lot of developed working documentation, research work, preparation and testing, collection and processing of data sets, reports and registration – all these are the results of intellectual work and «Green Mindset» of Ulba people which is expanding from year to year at our plant.

Anna Chumina