Metals

Our core business is the recovery of non-ferrous metals contained in different types of materials: concentrates, co-products, by-products, slag, complex secondary materials, residues, filtration dust, used catalysts, alloys, dross, waste, sludges, filter cakes,…

These are transformed to produce different materials which can be in the form of sulphates, salts, hydroxides, oxides, carbonates or refined metals. When they are not used in finished products, the purified metals stripped of their impurities serve in turn as raw materials that can be used by many types of industries for specific applications (metallurgical plants, chemical industry, glass industry, foundries , refineries, etc.).

Revalorizing these raw materials is a valuable adjunct in the product life cycle. It offers a responsible and economical alternative to reducing the consumption of natural resources.

Zinc
Zinc

30

Zn

Zinc

65,38

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING ZINC:

Zinc sulphate, zinc oxide, Waelz oxide, EAF dust, zinc metal, zinc cathode, alloy, concentrate, co-products, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Zinc in its metallic form is shiny, bluish gray to white with a slight blue-gray tint.  It is hard and brittle at ordinary temperature.

The production of zinc from ore, previously crushed and concentrated by various processes, is now carried out either by pyrometallurgy or by hydrometallurgy followed by electrolysis.

One of the main applications of zinc is as a deposit on steels to protect them from corrosion: this is galvanizing, the products of which are used in the automotive industry, household appliances and even industrial equipment. Brass is prepared with copper and zinc. The roofs are sometimes covered with zinc.

In the form of ZnO oxides, it is almost insoluble in water and generally comes in the form of a white powder. First, it is a stable pigment in paint. This ZnO pigment is also used in the glass and ceramic industry for the preparation of opaque white glass and enamels. It also enters directly into the composition of ferrites and in the production of various rubbers.

Zinc sulphate is used generically for leather and wood preservation, paper bleaching and zinc plating.

All metals
étain
étain

50

Sn

Tin

118,71

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING TIN:

Sn Metal 4N, 5N; low alpha, Pb-Sn-Sb alloy, tin oxide, hydroxide, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Tin is mainly extracted from a mineral called cassiterite, where it is found in the form of SnO2 oxide, with the appearance of a white crystallised powder. In its metallic form, tin is a silver-grey metal.

The applications of tin are varied. It is one of the components of bronze metallurgy, enters the composition of various alloys and catalysts. Tin is also used in the glass industry, as well as in the manufacture of electronic components. It is also found for soldering in the form of a Lead-Tin alloy and tinning, which consists of covering a metal part with a thin layer of tin.

All metals
Plomb PbCl
Plomb PbCl

82

Pb

Lead

207,19

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING LEAD:

Sulfate, carbonate, chloride, Pb-Sn-Sb alloy, Pb metal, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

In its metallic form, lead is malleable and bluish-grey, it whitens slowly on oxidation and is also whitish as a sulphate.

The ore is first “roasted” to oxidize the sulphide and obtain lead oxide. Once refined, the lead is cast and solidified in ingot molds. In some foundries, alongside mining concentrates, raw materials from the breaking of batteries, or by-products from other industrial processes such as lead sulphate, are used. Lead is still widely used today in electrical accumulators for batteries.

All metals
Cuivre
Cuivre

29

Cu

Copper

63,55

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING COPPER:

Cement, copper hydroxide, Cu metal, copper base alloy, brass, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

A reddish-coloured metal, copper is most often greenish in its oxidised form. It has exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity. Copper is found in many different industries: telecommunications, building, transport, energy and renewable energies.

The most famous alloys are certainly brass (copper-zinc) and bronze (copper-tin) but also cupronickel (copper-nickel). In addition to Zn, Sn and Ni, copper alloys can be based on lead Pb, silver Ag or gold Au, or low in Al or Si.

Recycling is nowadays one of the main sources of copper. Due to its chemical stability, it is infinitely recyclable, without alteration or loss of performance.

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Nickel
Nickel

28

Ni

Nickel

58,69

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING Nickel:

Hydroxide, metal hydroxide sludge, oxide, Ni metal, nickel base alloys, carbonate, sulphate, concentrate, matte, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Silvery-white in its metallic form, nickel is generally light green as an hydroxide. Thanks to its resistance to oxidation and corrosion, nickel is used in a large number of alloys such as stainless steels, superalloys, and cupronickels (copper-nickel).

It is also widely used for electrolytic nickel plating which consists of the addition of an anti-corrosion coating, obtained by electrolytic plating using water-soluble salts.

Nickel is also used in the composition of different types of batteries such as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) and of course Lithium ion (Li-ion). Nickel consumption in Li-ion batteries is growing rapidly. The use of nickel in batteries allows greater energy density at lower cost.

All metals
Molybdene
Molybdene

42

Mo

Molybdenum

95,95

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING molybdenum:

Calcium molybdate, Mo metal, molybdenum-based alloys, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Molybdenum is a transition metal. Pure metal is metallic white in appearance and very hard.

Although molybdenum is found in minerals such as wulfenite (PbMoO4) or powellite (CaMoO4), the main commercial source of molybdenum is molybdenite (MoS2). It is also found as a co-product of the copper mining industry.

The most important use of molybdenum is in the manufacture of alloys. The addition of this one makes it possible to harden the steel allowing it to be very resistant and little corroded at high temperature. It is also used in the composition of stainless steel used in the marine environment, for its high resistance to chemical corrosion.

Molybdenum is used as a catalyst, particularly in the petroleum industry, to remove organic sulfur compounds from petroleum.

Associated with silicon, it enters the composition of semiconductors. It is also found in the manufacture of special mirrors and solar cells.

Finally, molybdenum oxides: MoO3, MoO2 and MonO3n-1 and wulfenite are used as pigments in paints, inks, and plastics.

All metals
Antimoine
Antimoine

51

Sb

Antimony

121,76

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING antimony:

Pb-Sn-Sb alloy, other Sb-based alloys, slag, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Silvery-white and brittle in appearance, antimony is a shiny semi-metal. It is most often a co-product of the lead, copper and silver mining industry.

Antimony is very often associated with lead, tin, copper or precious metals, allowing them to increase their hardness.

It is mainly found as a compound in lead batteries, various alloys for welding or anti-friction, as well as in the manufacture of semiconductors.

All metals
Germanium
Germanium

32

Ge

Germanium

72,64

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING Germanium:

Ge metal, germanium base alloy, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

Germanium is a white or silvery metal. It is mainly produced as a co-product of the zinc, copper, and lead mining industry.

The final applications of germanium are multiple. It is used in the form of an alloy for the production of high-performance integrated circuits. It is also used in the glass industry thanks to its infrared transparency. It is also found in certain types of photovoltaic cells, optical fibers, and catalysts.

The most common marketed forms of germanium are Germanium fluoride (GeF2); Germanium dioxide (GeO2); Germanium hydride (Ge2H6); Germanium tetrachloride (GeCl4).

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Cobalt
Cobalt

27

Co

Cobalt

55,93

OUR MAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING cobalt:

Carbonate, hydroxide, oxide, alloys, Co metal, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake, various residues.

From the famous cobalt blue to mauve and black, cobalt salts can take on different colours, while cobalt metal is silvery-white. It is relatively light and hard.

One of the main applications of cobalt is in the field of alloys and superalloys. Cobalt steels are very strong and resistant to high temperatures. They can also be researched for their magnetic properties.

Cobalt compounds are also used as pigment for glass, ceramics, paints, and inks. Cobalt is also used in the composition of a wide range of catalysts and is an important element for various surface treatment processes.

Like nickel, cobalt is an essential element for the manufacture of rechargeable Li-ion type batteries used in our portable electronic devices as well as electric vehicles (EV’s).

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Metaux Mineurs
Metaux Mineurs

Other minor metals

Li, Te, Bi, In, Re, …

Lithium (Li), Bismuth (Bi), Indium (In), Manganese (Mn), Niobium (Nb), Iridium (Ir), Rhenium (Re), Rhodium (Rh), Ruthenium (Ru), Selenium (Se), Tantalum (Ta), Tellurium (Te), Tungsten (W), Vanadium (V)…

UNDER DIFFERENT FORMS:

Metal, alloy, concentrate, co-product, slag, dust, filter cake and other residues.

All metals
Metaux Precieux
Metaux Precieux

Precious metals

Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Rh, ...

Precious metals are metallic chemical elements known for their rarity and high economic value. Nowadays, we mainly think of gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh).

Apart from jewelry which is a priori the most frequently known use, these have many industrial applications. In particular, electronics, aeronautics, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, medicine as well as the automotive sector with use in catalytic converters.
The consumption of precious metals is constantly increasing and production by extraction from the natural environment is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of world consumption. The recycling of precious metals is therefore an essential factor in the supply of these.

Our main activity in the field of metals consists of separation with non-ferrous metals, purification of troublesome impurities and concentration of units.

All metals
Terres Rares
Terres Rares

Rare earth

These are increasingly used in essential high-tech applications such as electronics, solar and various alloys. The recycling of rare earths remains complex and very expensive. Each material is the subject of a specific feasibility study to offer a tailor-made recovery service.

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Selective Focus Of Strong Nitric, Sulfuric And Hydrochloric Acid
Selective Focus Of Strong Nitric, Sulfuric And Hydrochloric Acid

Reagents

NaHCO3, NaOH, Na2CO3, HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, …

We are constantly on the lookout for reagents such as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), caustic soda (NaOH), other types of acids used in hydrometallurgy, such used pickling baths rich in HCl-ZnCl2, battery acids, etc.

All metals