COSMOS-Fenix · Process for the reuse of fly ash derived from waste thermal treatments as substitution of critical and toxic flame retardants in the plastic manufacturing.

COSMOS Fenix® (CF) is the trademark name of the patented process owned by Velaworks for the inerting of hazardous Air Pollution Control (APC) ashes derived from non-recyclable Waste Thermal Treatments, able to transform them into valuable secondary raw material (powder) that can be used as filler and flame retardant in plastic and rubber production. The easy and inexpensive process gives an effective answer to the huge problem of fly ashes landfill. At the same time, it offers to plastic and rubber manufacturers a very price competitive filler and flame retardant with very interesting flame resistant and strength properties, able to replace Antimony and Bromine in the plastics production process. The solution was validated at pilot scale at the waste thermal treatment plants of Brescia (Italy) and Bratislava (Slovakia), demonstrating the technical feasibility and the environmental safety of the process. The unique selling points are:•for Solid Waste Thermal Treatment operators → 20% reduction of cost for the disposal of APC (130 vs. 160 €/ton) with a potential saving for the sector in Europe of > 45M€/year;•for plastic manufacturers → flame retardants price equal to 380 €/ton, against the current market prices between 400 to 800 €/ton, with a saving up to 52%; no need of modifying the production process; safe and environmentally friendly material.Currently, about 2.4 million tons of APC ashes per year are treated in Europe, corresponding to a total Potential Market for CF of 1.200 M€/y, considering revenues from the treatment of the APCs and from sales of the secondary raw materials. The scope of Phase 1 is to demonstrate the technical/economical feasibility, achieving the following targets: i) Final Testing site for the pre-industrial plant installation (capacity = 400 tons/year) selected; ii) REACH authorization finalized for CF material; iii) First agreements with supply/value chain and stakeholders signed; iv) Customer validation performed.