How to scale microwave technology for industrial applications?

Vale is a global mining company, operating with a logistics infrastructure that integrates high-quality ore extraction and its transportation by rail, port, and ship to distribution centers.

Microwave is a well known technology applied in chemical/pharmaceutical/food industries. However, its benefits can also be explored in other areas, which is why researchers have been developing and improving several applications in order to achieve grater scale and prove their viability when it comes to mining and related sectors.

Vale's dedicated technical team works on developing the microwave application mainly considering the applications below:

• Microwave for drying (eg. ores with high humidity in ship shipments carry a huge risk of liquefaction; mineral processing/benefiting routes that require “almost dry” ore). Here are different issues such as moisture to load our vessels during rainy season and drying pre condition for one of our ore benefication route.

• Microwave for reduction (eg. transforming waste/tailings into products by “eliminating” / transforming the composition when exposed to microwaves).

• Microwave for calcination (eg. new blast furnace replacement routes in steelmaking).

We reached important levels of success in these types of development and is now considering accelerating to scale. Different challenges are on the way (eg development of better materials for parts - refractories/ generator) and we believe that partnering beyond Brazil could accelerate development.

In this context, we are seeking for partnerships/cooperation to also contribute in our current understanding, highlight potential blind spots, explore different options for acceleration.