Betolar’s newly developed innovative method combines the separation of metals from waste materials with green cement production. This method enables the high-yield recovery of valuable metals from unused by-products of the metal and mining industries.
Another advantage of the method is the conversion of purified residual slag into Betolar’s low-carbon green cement, all within the same process. All materials fed into the process are turned into valuable products.
Betolar’s CEO Tuija Kalpala says, “A breakthrough in metal separation and low-carbon binder production is a significant step forward for us. Our vision and goal from the beginning have been to develop our own low-carbon binder to replace cement for concrete products. Now we have succeeded.”
Betolar has filed seven new patent applications to further protect the new method in addition to previously filed patents.
Kalpala adds, “The method developed by Betolar is the result of very long-term research and development work. It offers a concrete solution to both increasing self-sufficiency in critical minerals and the global climate change challenge.”
Significant Value from Waste Without Environmental Burden
The mining industry generates billions of tons of tailings annually, in addition to what is already accumulated in existing and closed mines. Harmful substances leaching from tailings into the environment are a major global issue, yet these tailings contain enormous untapped potential for strategic raw materials. Similarly, the metal industry produces around 500 million tons of unused slag each year. Betolar’s new method harnesses this potential while minimizing environmental risks.
Betolar’s solution could cover about 10% of the world’s binder needs from the metal industry’s unused slag alone, reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by 1%. The potential from utilizing mining industry tailings is even greater.
Kalpala states, “As a new type of binder, Betolar’s green cement is not only low-emission but also a genuine circular economy product. Many companies in the cement industry aim to reduce emissions by focusing on carbon capture. We go significantly further in sustainability, as our solution both reduces emissions and saves virgin natural resources.”
The method offers significant advantages for concrete businesses, in addition to licensing the metal separation technology. By replacing traditional cement with Betolar’s green cement, emissions are reduced, and natural resources are preserved. The method also brings value to the metal and mining industries by improving metal yields, reducing waste, and minimizing environmental risks.
