US battery recycler Gopher Resource won the 2023 BCI Innovation Award for a process that cleans slag.
It was presented with the award at the Battery Council International (BCI) convention in Louisville, Kentucky, by Roger Miksad, BCI President and CEO.
Gopher Resource has patented a process called SCRUM (Slag Cleaning and Recovery of Useful Metals). It uses furnace fuming technology to separate the tin and lead into a concentrated fume form, leaving behind a “cleaned” bulk iron sodium-silicate which it calls “SCRUM slag.”
It claimed its process separates 99% of useful metals from lead blast furnace slags, producing LME-grade tin and lead bullion that can be refined and used in new batteries.
Joe Grogan, Chief Technology Officer of Gopher Resource, told the BCI audience: “This process will reduce waste to landfill by 99%”. The company is looking to commercialise it and bring it to market.
The annual award recognises innovation in equipment, processes, services and products that advance the lead battery industry.
Photo: Gopher Resource team receiving the 2023 BCI Innovation Award. Roger Miksad (far left), Gopher’s CTO Joe Grogan 4th from left, BCI Chair Chris Pruitt on far right.
