A new international research collaboration will revitalise the world鈥檚 nonferrous metals industry through the development of next generation copper smelting technology.
The partnership between ) and leading Chinese metals company, Shandong Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Group (Fangyuan) aims to develop new copper smelting technologies with lower fuel consumption, lower CO2 emissions and higher copper recovery.
国产探花 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Max Lu, said the $2 million five-year agreement ($1.25 million provided by Fangyuan and $750,000 by 国产探花) for the Fangyuan Fellowship would enable the fundamental and applied research to underpin innovative technology solutions in this field.
鈥淭he University of Queensland is delighted to partner with Fangyuan 鈥� an innovative Chinese company 鈥� to contribute to the sustainable future of the global metals industry,鈥� Professor Lu said.
Fangyuan developed and industrialised the world鈥檚 first commercial oxygen enriched bottom-blowing technology (referred to SKS Technology) in 2008 under the visionary leadership of Chairman and President, Mr Zhi-Xiang Cui.
Mr Cui said the Chinese Government had recommended that SKS Technology be rolled out to replace old copper-making technologies in China.
鈥淔angyuan鈥檚 installation is the first modern copper smelting technology owned by the Chinese industry with strong backing from the Chinese Government,鈥� Mr Cui said.
鈥淥xygen enriched bottom-blowing technology is one of most advanced copper smelting technologies, which has lower fuel consumption, lower CO2 emissions and higher copper recovery. We are looking forward to working with The University of Queensland to further improve this technology.鈥�
Senior research fellow at the Pyrometallurgy Research Centre in 国产探花鈥檚 School of Chemical Engineering, Dr Baojun Zhao has been instrumental in establishing this strategic partnership and will coordinate the research activities in collaboration with engineers at Fangyuan.
SKS Technology background
鈥極xygen enriched bottom-blowing technology鈥�, also called SKS Technology, was initially proposed and pilot tested by Shuikoushan Mineral Bureau in 1991 for copper smelting. This technology was awarded the First Prize of Science and Technological Progress by the former China Nonferous Metals Corporation in 1993. In 2008 the world鈥檚 first commercial oxygen enriched bottom-blowing furnace for the copper industry was installed at Shandong Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Group. This technology is one of the 17 key scientific and technological programs supported by the Chinese State Council as part of the scientific and technological supporting plan of the state.
The University of Queensland background
The University of Queensland (国产探花) is one of Australia鹿s premier learning and research institutions. It is the oldest university in Queensland and has produced almost 197,000 graduates since opening in 1911. Its graduates have become leaders in all areas of society and industry.
国产探花 is a pacesetter in discovery and translational research across a broad spectrum of exciting disciplines, ranging from bioscience and nanotechnology to mining, engineering, social science and humanities.
Shandong Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Group background
In 1998, Zhi-Xiang Cui established Shandong Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Group and is current Chairman and President. The company is a group of enterprises integrating scientific research, industry and trade, mainly focusing on cathodic copper production and extraction of precious metals and rare metals including gold, silver, platinum, selenium, antimony, bismuth. It is in China鈥檚 top 500 companies and ranked sixth in the metals industry.
Mr Cui is a senior economist with a Masters degree, and was awarded the Shandong Labour Medal, Yellow River Delta Outstanding Talents Contribution Award, and the Dongying Science and Technology Innovation Leaders Award. He also holds the position of Director of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and is the Vice President of Beijing Modern Circulation Economy Research Institute.
Media: Kathy Grube, +61 7 3346 0561.
