An additional income of one crore per month is expected

200 crores if three lakh tonnes of waste are treated.

KOLLAM: KMML,Chavara has come up with a technology to separate iron from iron oxide, which has been accumulating as liquid waste for decades. The technology was developed by KMML's research and development arm and has been applied for a patent.

Iron sinter is produced by processing iron oxide into gravel form. It can be used as a substitute for iron ore in the manufacture of TMT wire. With commercial production of sinter, an additional income of Rs. 1 crore per month is expected. The biggest advantage is that it can solve environmental pollution caused by iron oxide, which is acidic in nature.

Three lakh tonnes of iron oxide are stored in large ponds on the factory premises. Processing it is estimated to yield iron sinter worth around Rs. 200 crore at current market rates.

Five tonnes of iron sinter produced on a trial basis at the existing plant were handed over to Kalliyath TMT Company, which manufactures TMT wire, yesterday. A separate plant will be built soon for commercial production.

Liquid iron oxide is a byproduct of titanium dioxide manufacturing. Fifty tonnes of iron oxide are produced daily at KMML. It is estimated that 15 tons of iron sinter will be obtained if it is processed. A tonne of iron sinter costs around Rs. 20,000. We get 450 tons of sinter per month, resulting in an additional income of Rs. 1 crore.

Processing of Iron oxide

First, ilmenite is separated from black sand.

Titanium dioxide is produced by treating ilmenite with hydrochloric acid.

Iron oxide is a by-product of recycling hydrochloric acid for reuse.

Acidic iron oxide has been building up in the factory for over 30 years. With the development of new technology, this waste disposal issue has been solved and an application for patent has been submitted.

J Chandra Bose,
MD, KMML