On the island of Iturup, the extraction of rare metals from volcanic gases can begin. The project is still at the research stage, but in two years it is planned to launch pilot production.
A unique rhenium deposit – the Kudryavy volcano on Iturup – can become a source of valuable metals. Scientists and investors are working on technology to extract rhenium, indium and germanium from volcanic gases. The Russian Rhenium project has been developing since 2015, and patents have already been received for key developments.
Now a pilot plant is being created that can operate at extreme temperatures – from 250 to 300 degrees. However, before launch, several important tasks must be resolved: ensuring the safety of personnel, optimizing technologies for filtering toxic gases, and establishing logistics.
It is planned that a concentrate will be produced on the island, which will then be sent to the mainland for processing. The main region for this may be the Sakhalin region, but cooperation with the Krastsvetmet company is also being considered.
The first batches of products will amount to tens of kilograms. If the project is successful, it will open up new prospects for Russian industry.
Extracting rare metals from volcanic gases is a complex but promising task. The implementation of the project at Iturup can strengthen Russia’s position in the global rare earth market.
Source: @dprom
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