AP13268858 — Research on the technology for producing microdispersed high-purity silicon oxide and metallurgical silicon from asbestos production waste

The goal of this project is to develop an effective technology for processing asbestos production waste with the subsequent production of microdispersed silicon oxide and metallurgical silicon. It is also planned to test the developed technology on an enlarged laboratory scale to clarify its effectiveness and scalability.

Relevance: Over the past 55 years, Kostanay Minerals JSC has accumulated more than 300 million tons of asbestos production waste. When chrysotile asbestos ore is processed, only a small portion, namely 5-8%, is recovered into commercial products, while the remaining over 90% of the raw material is disposed of in landfills. Processing this huge volume of waste as metallurgical raw materials not only helps expand the country's raw material base, but also helps improve the environmental condition of the region. Of note is the fact that these wastes are on the surface and ready to be processed, making them suitable for use using low-cost technologies. In this regard, the processing of large-scale waste from chrysotile asbestos production ensures economic profitability and offers a solution to social and environmental problems. Silicon dioxide and metallurgical silicon are widely used in many industries, including electronics, glass, metallurgy and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, ensuring a reliable source of raw materials for the production of these critical products is of utmost importance.

Scientific adviser: PhD , professor, Baygenzhenov Omirserik Sabyrzhanovich

Results: Within the project, a technology for processing asbestos waste to obtain high-purity silicon dioxide and metallurgical silicon was successfully developed. At the initial stage, the raw material was characterized, and hydrochloric acid was selected as the most effective leaching agent. In the second stage, key process parameters such as temperature, time, and phase ratio were optimized, resulting in the production of microdispersed SiO₂ with a purity of at least 99.4%. In the final stage, a method for producing metallurgical silicon from the obtained silica was developed, and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. All project objectives were fully achieved, and technological parameters along with scaling recommendations were established. The results demonstrate the economic viability and strong potential for industrial application of the proposed technology.

List of publications with links to them

1. O. Baigenzhenov, A. Khabiyev, B. Mishra, I.Aimbetova, S. Yulusov, I. Temirgali, Ye. Kuldeyev, Zh.Korganbayeva. Asbestos Waste Treatment - An Effective Process to Selectively Recover Gold and Other Nonferrous Metals //Recycling. – 2022. – Т. 7. – №. 6. – С. 85. Percentile – 72; Q3 (2022) https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/7/6/85 
2. O. Baigenzhenov, T. Chepushtanova, A. Altmyshbayeva, I. Temirgali, G. Maldybayev, R. Sharipov, B. Altaibayev, A. Dagubayeva. Investigation of thermodynamic and kinetic regularities of asbestos waste leaching processes //Results in Engineering. – 2024. – Т. 21. – С. 102000. Q1; Percentile –82 (2024) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024002536