Vegetable Granules for Vibratory Finishing, Polishing, Sandblast

Problem statement

High production of agriwastes that can become an environmental problem.

Executive summary

Main aim is to valorise agri-food wastes and transforming them in materials used in sand blasting, deburring and polishing as well as additives in many industrial production processes for machining metals, animal feed and restoration work.

Technology description

Granules from hazelnuts, almonds, corn cobs, etc. are produced and used for the following applications:

Products made from different annually renewable raw materials (hazelnuts, almonds, corn cobs, etc.): these fibrous materials are ground to the grain size wanted by the user and are used for sand blasting, deburring, and polishing as well as additives in many industrial production processes for machining metals, animal feed and restoration work.

Soft sandblasting: hazelnuts, almonds, corn cobs, etc. are used for removal of carbon residues and encrustations on metal parts of engines, reactors, metal dies for foundries, moulds for rubber and plastic materials. They don't corrode the metal, so it does not alter the dimensions, finishes or edges of the parts. They are used for removal of unwanted parts on valuable wood beams, statues, monuments, tombs, works of art. Also as a softener for processing in the tannery, fabric, and leather industries.

Deburring objects: the granules of hazelnuts, almonds, corn cobs, etc. are coated with abrasive pastes and are used widely in vibro-finishes and barrelling in various sectors (metal and alloy, plastic material, spectacles, silverware, and gold smithery industries).

Fillers and additives (mixed with resins): for foundry models and for industries that manufacture resins, sealants, and adhesives.

Zootechny and supplements: fibrous support for chemical-pharmaceutical industries that manufacture supplements for zootechny. The granules can be coated with active substances, allowing the user to obtain powder-free granular medicinal products.

Organic Mix for fertilizers and agrochemicals: the granules, as absorbents, may incorporate nutrients and healing principles for different types of agrarian crops.

Market deployment considerations

These technologies are modulable and scalable, as well as used at local or regional level, therefore, very replicable technologies.

Environmental considerations

Feasibility studies with different biomasses should be made.