Page 159 - CW E-Magazine (2-4-2024)

News from Abroad

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE
Decarbonisation efforts in steel industry could hinder

circularity of zinc: study

A recent report by leading consult-
ing firm, Wood Mackenzie, warns that
efforts to decarbonise the steel industry
through adopting Direct Reduced Iron
(DRI) production with green hydrogen
could have significant implications
for the circularity of zinc. The shift
towards the use of more DRI in electric
arc furnaces (EAF) versus scrap steel is
expected to increase the cost and car-
bon intensity of zinc recovery due to
the reduced zinc content in EAF dust.

Wood Mackenzie’s report estimates
that the current EAF process gene- dustry in meeting the demands of decar- dust. Steelmakers either have to pay for
rates approximately 535-mtpa of steel, bonisation and the circular economy,” its disposal in specialised landfill sites
resulting in steel dust containing any- said Mr. Andrew Thomas, Head of Zinc or hand it over for further processing.
where from 0.2-mtpa to 3.4-mtpa of Markets at Wood Mackenzie.
zinc. Raw materials analysis reveals “Alternative methods of recovering
that around 1.6-mtpa of zinc units are The current “best available tech- zinc from steel dusts have proven
sourced globally from the zinc in steel nology” for zinc recycling is highly unsuccessful, posing a risk that the steel
dusts and other residues, indicating an carbon-intensive, making it difficult industry’s decarbonisation efforts and
average zinc content of 17% in EAF for the zinc market to align with decar- rising carbon costs could inadvertently
dust. More use of DRI in the EAF pro- bonisation goals of the steel industry. hinder the circularity of zinc. This could
cess will lead to a decrease in zinc-rich According to Wood Mackenzie, primary result in a higher amount of zinc being
dust, further increasing the cost and smelters currently utilise up to 25% lost if steel dust is used in the produc-
carbon intensity of zinc recovery. of zinc oxides and other residues in tion of ferro concrete and potentially
their raw material feed. However, this fertilisers, thus preventing the recovery
“By 2050, nearly half of the world’s practice also poses a challenge for the of zinc altogether and represents a signi-
steel production is projected to be future of secondary zinc. The primary ficant challenge for the zinc industry
through the EAF route. This transition raw material for smelters is zinc oxide, in meeting the demands of decarboni-
is necessary for decarbonisation efforts, obtained through the pyrometallurgical sation and the circular economy,”
but it poses challenges for the zinc in- process of recovering zinc from steel Mr. Thomas added.
Carbogen Amcis announces successful ANVISA audit

of Chinese facility

Switzerland-based Carbogen Amcis, ber 2023, concluded successfully with manufacturing of highly potent chemi-
a pharmaceutical process develop- no critical and no major observations cals up to Category III; GMP pro-
ment and API manufacturing company, raised, the company informed. A Good duct release; and analytical support for
has announced the successful comple- Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certifi- development activities. The ANVISA
tion of its first Brazilian Regulatory cate has been granted to the site by the audit was focused on areas including
Authority Agency (ANVISA) routine authority. The Shanghai site specia- utilities, maintenance and calibration,
inspection of its facility in Shanghai. lises in large-scale manufacturing of production, quality control and assu-
The inspection, undertaken in Novem- raw materials, intermediates and APIs; rance.

Chemical Weekly April 2, 2024 159

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised