New Technology Recycles Aluminum-liner
Carbon-FRP Oxygen Containers
NKK and its subsidiary Kokan Drum Co. have developed know-how for recycling aluminum-liner carbon-FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) oxygen containers used in long-term oxygen therapy. Kokan Drum produces and sells the containers, which it developed with Nippon Sanso Corp., a leading industrial gas supplier.
The new technology provides methods for the separation and disposal of the containers, which at present are simply buried as waste. After crushing the containers, aluminum is recovered for use as a deoxidizing agent and carbon-FRP components are extracted for use as a sublimation-heating agent. Both agents are used in steelmaking converters.
As the world's first recycling of such containers for reuse in the steelmaking process, the new technology represents a further step toward resources conservation in Japan.
In addition, the technology realizes an integrated system for the manufacture, sale and disposal of aluminum-liner carbon-FRP containers. NKK and its subsidiary expect to strengthen their presence in this field as a result.
NKK and Kokan Drum also intend to apply the technology to aluminum-liner carbon-FRP fuel cylinders used in cars for compressed natural gas and fuel cells, thereby raising the recycling rate of automotive vehicles.
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