Scale: an emerging project for European scandium supply

Scandium (Sc) is one of the highest valued elements in the periodic table and an element which is usually grouped in REEs. The technological applications of this valuable element are unique, as it is a key component in producing solid oxide fuel cells, aluminium alloys especially for aerospace industry and 3D printing applications (SCALMALLOY®). Despite its various technological applications, Sc supply is limited due to its scarcity and the high production costs. Sc producing countries are China (66%), Russia (26%), and Ukraine (7%). Between 2010 and 2014, the European demand was covered from Russia (67%) and Kazakhstan (33%). Additionally, the end-of-life recycling rate of scandium was reported to be 0% (COM/2017/0490: FIN). There is no production of scandium in Europe, but the region is home to many Sc industrial end-users (Airbus, II-VI, KBM Affilips, etc.). In fact, end-users like Airbus, are not deploying their Sc applications due to the lack of a secure Sc supply. As a member of EU H2020, the SCALE project sets about to develop and secure a European Sc supply chain through the development of technological innovations which will allow the extraction of Sc from European industrial residues (i.e. bauxite residue and TiO2 production waste), ultimately upgrading it to pure scandium oxide, fluoride, metal and alloy. The industrially driven SCALE consortium covers the entire Sc value chain with 7 major European industries and further features 8 academic and research institutes and 4 engineering companies with track records in RTD.