Saturn Demonstration Plant

The aim of the Saturn project is to demonstrate effective and efficient separation of NF Metals from mixed waste mainly MSW and commercial waste. Waste fractions treated in MBT plants, which consist of highly contaminated multi-component mixtures of all different types of metals, are perfiect for the extraction recyclable metals. A small scale pilot plant has already successfully demonstrated that separation of valuable NF metals can be achieved at a rate of above 98%. This plant is now being up-scaled for commerical testing and demonstration in Salzgitter and is the core of the Saturn Eco Innovation Project.

The existence of non-ferrous metal pre-concentrates demand ways of utilizing the resource potential of these streams and under economically feasible conditions. The adoption of new and innovative technologies like x-ray sorting systems in processing plants for pre-concentrates opens up a new path for the effective separation and utilization of resource potentials in waste streams.

At this point in time, no comparable or similar commercially demonstrated solution for the treatment of pre-concentrates from non-ferrous metals is available in Europe. The Saturn demonstration plant will therefore be a first in this field in Europe.

The main competitors with the Saturn concept are the metal scrap dealers who export and sell the pre-concentrates to countries outside the European Union with the result of serious loss of precious resources.

Input Materials

Enriched products from the MBT processes will be used in the Saturn demonstration plant. Some photos of input materials are shown below.