Various research endeavours were carried out at the National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur and the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, (IMMT) Bhubaneswar for optimizing the existing process routes for extraction of Cu, Ni, Co and Mn from the polymetallic nodules as well as initiate activities on new processing routes.

a) Objectives

1. To develop alternative process routes for improving the techno-economics of processing nodules for recovery of Cu, Ni, Co, and Mn
2. Recovery of additional metals and value added products such as Mn, Mo, rare earth metals, etc.
3. Studies on environmental issues such as effluent and solid waste management, rheological studies for transportation of nodules / residues
4. Processing of new raw material (Co crust and polymetallic hydrothermal sulphides)
5. CSIR-MoES Centre for Extracting Metallurgy for creating facilities and expertise for development of domain knowledge on processing of seabed minerals.
6. Preparation of manganese metal & high performance Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide (EMD).
7. Consultancy work on process appraisal, upscaling and implementation.

b) Participating Institutions:

Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, (IMMT) Bhubaneswar and National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur

c) Implementation Plans:

This is a continuing programme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences to be taken up during 12th plan period.

d) Deliverables:

1. Development of a process Flow sheets, scale up studies through pilot scale testing for recovery of metal values
2. High performance EMD for battery industry
3. Development of flow sheet for processing ferro-manganese crusts
4. Establishment of the probable mechanism for extraction of manganese, copper, nickel & cobalt from manganese nodule.

e) Budget requirement : 36 crores

(Rs. In crores)