Hitachi Zosen Inova expands the market for EasyMining’s unique Ash2Salt solution

From left: Mikael Hedström (Ragn-Sells), Anna Lundbom (EasyMining), Jan Svärd (EasyMining), Lars Lindén (Ragn-Sells), Stefan Forsberg (HZI), Fabio Dinale (HZI), Ulrik Améen (Ragn-Sells) and Nils Lannefors (HZI).

The global cleantech company Hitachi Zosen Inova and Ragn-Sells innovation company EasyMining have entered into an agreement where Hitachi Zosen Inova, as a licensee of the Ash2Salt patent, will expand the market for this unique technology outside the Nordics. This is an important step in further commercialising the Ash2Salt technology.

- We are thrilled that a large and reputable company like Hitachi Zosen Inova sees the possibilities with our Ash2Salt technology. It is gratifying that Hitachi Zosen Inova see such potential with this technology that they, during the construction of the first Ash2Salt plant at Högbytorp, want’s to license the technology outside the Nordics, says Anna Lundbom, Head of Marketing at EasyMining.  

Hitachi Zosen Inova is a company that is already established in the market for handling fly ash. The company’s global reach will ensure good potential for a market expansion of this unique circular solution for the extraction of commercial salts from fly ash.

- EasyMining's Ash2Salt process is an excellent addition to our established fly ash cleaning processes. The separation of salts from fly ash is of high value for the plant operator, and it also brings us another step forward on our way to a circular economy. Therefore, Hitachi Zosen Inova will be offering this concept in future plants as we are convinced of its economic and ecological benefits”, says Dr Volker Wiesendorf, Director Sales Energy from Waste at Hitachi Zosen Inova.

The first plant already under construction

In May 2020 Ragn-Sells started the construction of the first Ash2Salt plant in Högbytorp outside of Stockholm, Sweden. Hitachi Zosen Inova is key contributor in this project, responsible for the design and construction of the process plant.

The construction is progressing well, and the plant will be up and running in the summer of 2022. Initially, the plant will be able to receive and process up to 135,000 tonnes of fly ash per year.

Fly ash, which is classed as hazardous waste, is what is left-over from scrubbing the flue gas from waste incineration. The Ash2Salt plant will wash the fly ash and recover from it the salts; sodium chloride, calcium chloride and potassium chloride, for various commercial applications.

One of the advantages of this technology is that the ash no longer needs to be disposed of as hazardous waste and that valuable substances in the ash are recovered and reused.

- If we are serious about creating a sustainable society, we have to use more of the raw materials we have already extracted, and the Ash2Salt technology is a great example of this, concludes Anna Lundbom.

The Ash2Salt technology will be applicable in all countries where flue gas residues from incineration need to be handled. In the agreement, Hitachi Zosen Inova will be the licensee in the following countries: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, People’s Republic of China, Japan, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Australia.

For more information, please contact:
Anna Lundbom, Head of Marketing at EasyMining, +46 70 927 28 29, anna.lundbom@easymining.se

Martina Gschwandl, Corperate Communication at Hitachi Zosen Inova, +41 44 277 17 00

Emma Ranerfors, Press Officer at Ragn-Sells, +46 10 723 24 16, press@ragnsells.com

About EasyMining
EasyMining is an innovation company in the Ragn-Sells Group dedicated to closing nutrient cycles.

One of mankind’s major challenges is to reduce, or preferably, eliminate all hazardous and toxic substances, that are not supporting a sustainable, circular economy, from waste. EasyMining is passionate about inventing new technology that uses intelligent chemical solutions to close nutrient cycles. Our objective is to create new circular material flows in an efficient commercial way.
Read more here

About Hitachi Zosen Inova
Zurich-based Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) is a global leader in energy from waste (EfW), operating as part of the Hitachi Zosen Corporation Group. HZI acts as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor and project developer delivering complete turnkey plants and system solutions for thermal and biological EfW recovery. Its solutions are based on efficient and environmentally sound technology, are thoroughly tested, and can be flexibly adapted to user requirements. HZI’s Service Group combines absolute commitment to research and development with extensive manufacturing and assembly capabilities and looks after your plant throughout its entire life cycle.

The company’s customers range from experienced waste management companies to up-and-coming partners in new markets worldwide. HZI’s innovative and reliable waste and flue gas treatment as well as gas upgrading and power-to-gas solutions have been part of over 700 reference projects delivered since 1933.
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About the Ash2Salt technology
When flue gas from waste incineration is scrubbed and filtered, fly ash is formed and captured. This ash is classified as a hazardous waste due to high levels of pollutants, but also contains several desirable compounds, such as potassium and sodium. In the Ash2Salt process, the fly ash is washed and three commercial salts are extracted from the wash liquid: sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride.

The ash residues that remain after treatment with Ash2Salt are no longer a hazardous waste, as the majority of environmental toxins have been separated. Therefore, the residues do not need to be placed on special landfills for hazardous waste, and the total volume going to landfill is reduced.
Read more here.