On Thursday, 4 December, the Technical University of Leoben hosted the official kick-off meeting of the international research project FL4E&R – Freeze-Lining Aided Pyrometallurgy for Carbon-Free Metal Extraction and Recycling. The event marked the start of an ambitious initiative dedicated to advancing the scientific and technological understanding of freeze lining formation in high-temperature pyrometallurgical furnaces. This phenomenon, essential for process stability, refractory protection, and improved energy efficiency, remains one of the key technical challenges in modern furnace operation.

The FL4E&R project represents a major collaborative effort that integrates controlled laboratory experiments, pilot-scale trials (in Direct Reduced Iron – Electric Smelting Furnace (DRI-ESF) and slag fuming processes), and advanced computational modeling. The consortium is led by the academic partner at the Chair of Simulation and Modeling Metallurgical Processes (SMMP) in Leoben, working in close cooperation with academic partner KU Leuven and industrial partners RHI Magnesita, Aurubis Beerse, and Primetals Technologies. 

The knowledge gained through this initiative is expected to be a major step forward in supporting the transition toward carbon-free metal extraction using the DRI-ESF route and to enhance sustainable recycling through optimized electrically-powered slag fuming operations. The successful kick-off meeting underscores the consortium’s shared vision and establishes a strong foundation for the collaborative work ahead, aligning closely with the university’s commitment to forward-looking research in energy and environmental technologies.