INNOVATION

• The technology was developing over 15 years and is the know-how of Technano Innovation. An industrial plant for the production of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanopowder with a purity of 99.995–99.999% and high dispersion (particle size 20–80 nm) is in place.

• The technology is successfully applied in the Republic of Uzbekistan, where a plant for the industrial production of high-purity metal powder of molybdenum trioxide is built.

• The technology makes it possible to extract nanopowders of rare metals – tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, and noble metals – gold, platinum, in one stage of very high purity. Obtaining nanopowders of tungsten carbides and molybdenum carbides is carried out by the method of plasma chemistry.

• The technology is being constantly improved, which makes it possible to regularly expand the list of produced powders of rare and noble metals. And scope, quality, characteristics, and price, in turn, depend on purity of products.

• The production process is environmentally clean and safe, as it goes in a closed cycle. There are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere and no disposal of industrial waste is required.

• The main condition of this project is a method different from previously known and a reduction in the costs of traditional production by 7–10 times.

• Considering the uniqueness of the technological scheme and the phased cycle of increasing production capacity, a production program is planned until 2030.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Research and development works are conducted;

• Design documentation is developed;

• A building corresponding to the project is purchased and its complete reconstruction is carried out;

• Experimental equipment is manufactured and tested;

• Selection and supervised installation of the necessary additional equipment is completed;

• Testing of pilot production is carried out;

• Supply of necessary raw materials, materials and special equipment is provided;

• Pilot production samples are received and sent to consumers in Austria, Japan and China. The sample analysis results – 99.999% purity of MoO3;

• Work is underway to sign contracts with potential consumers in Austria, Germany, Japan, and China.

RARE AND RARE-EARTH METALS — VITAMINS OF METALLURGICAL PRODUCTION

Use of rare and rare-earth metals largely determines scientific and technological progress in the development of not only metallurgy, but also other industries, science, and technology.

MOLYBDENUM

Molybdenum (Mo) is a shiny, silvery metal of the chromium group with an atomic number 42. It can be found in molybdenite ore (MoS2) and wulfenite ore (PbMoO4). And does not occur in nature freely. It may also be recovered in form of a by-product from mining of copper and tungsten. It has very hard and tough nature, and a high elastic modulus. Also, molybdenum has a very high melting point.

USE OF MOLYBDENUM

1. Use of molybdenum in the field of steel and alloys

Molybdenum is mainly used for the production of alloy steel, which accounts for about 43% of the total molybdenum consumption, in the steel sector. Molybdenum is also used to make stainless steel, tool steel and high-speed steel, cast iron and rollers. They account for about 23%, 8% and 6% of consumption respectively. By adding molybdenum as a base and adding other elements (such as titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tungsten and rare earth elements), non-ferrous alloys can also be formed. Molybdenum based alloys are used for high heating elements, extrusion tools, glass furnace electrodes, spray coatings, metalworking tools, spacecraft parts and many others due to their good strength, mechanical stability, and high ductility.

2. Use of molybdenum in the chemical industry

Lubrication

Molybdenum serves as a good solid lubricant. Lubricant can be used in vacuum and various ultra-low and high temperatures. It is hence widely used in gas turbines, gears, moulds, as well as in aerospace, nuclear industry and other fields.

Catalyst

Molybdenum compounds are one of the most widely used catalysts, and are widely used in chemical, petroleum, plastic, textile, and other industries.

Pigments

Molybdenum is yellow and non-toxic, has bright colour, good light fastness and thermal stability. And, therefore, it is the best replacement for yellow chromium and yellow cadmium, which are the most used inorganic toxic yellow pigments in the world today.

Reaction retardant

Molybdenum is often used in the construction of air conditioning refrigeration and heating systems to prevent corrosion of mild steel.

3. Use of molybdenum in the field of electrical engineering and electronics

Molybdenum has good electrical conductivity and high temperature resistance, and its coefficient of thermal expansion is similar to that of glass. Therefore, molybdenum is widely used for the manufacture of wires and spiral threads. In addition, molybdenum wire is also an ideal electrode wire for wire electrical discharge machine and can cut various steels and hard alloys.

4. Use of molybdenum in medicine

Molybdenum is one of the essential trace elements of the human body, and is also part of many enzymes. The main function of molybdenum in the body is to participate in the mutual reaction between sulphur, iron, and copper. An appropriate amount of molybdenum can promote human development, inhibit tumour development, support energy metabolism, and protect myocardium.

5. Use of molybdenum in animal husbandry

The biological effect of molybdenum in animal husbandry is mainly achieved by the fact that it is a part of some molybdenum-containing animal enzymes, which indirectly affects their biological activity. Also, molybdenum is important for nutritional metabolism of ruminants. Molybdenum promotes digestion of crude fibre and promotes animal growth. Thus, molybdenum additives are necessary for animal feed in accordance with the nutritional and technical requirements of animal needs.

6. Use of molybdenum in agriculture

Molybdenum is one of the essential trace elements in plants. Molybdenum deficiency affects normal plant growth. Molybdenum promotes absorption of phosphorus by plants, accelerates formation and transformation of alcohols in plants, increases content of chlorophyll and vitamin C in plants, and increases resistance of plants to drought, cold and diseases. Given the importance of molybdenum for plants, many countries have begun to produce and use trace elements containing molybdenum in the agriculture.

MOLYBDENUM CONSUMPTION



Molybdenum consumption, thousand tons
Consuming countries
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
USA
37.0
26.0
30.8
34.8
25.0
European Union
58.0
48.7
51.7
67.6
63.4
Japan
30.0
21.0
27.6
27.6
25.0
China
46.8
54.0
67.4
80.6
83.2
Other countries
41.2
36.4
37.6
26.4
39.9
Total
212.9
186.1
215.2
237.0
236.5

NANOTECHNOLOGIES

Nanotechnologies are the national priorities of developed countries. Today, nanotechnologies are actively included in all sectors of the economy, contributing to their more efficient and dynamic development. Nanotechnologies are based on nanomaterials, most of which are nanopowders of rare and rare earth metals. A limited number of complex oxides and mixtures are currently available. However, their use is expected to increase in the long term. About 80% of all powders are metal oxides. And a significant growing share in the total production volume falls on powders of pure metals.

NANOPOWDERS MARKET BY TYPE

Nanomaterials are divided into the following groups: metal oxides, complex oxides, pure metal powders and mixtures.

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF METAL POWDERS IN COUNTRIES AND INDUSTRIES

Market segmentation of metal nanopowders falls on North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. According to research, North America dominated the market in 2021. Growing demand from end-use industries is driving the growth of the nanopowder market. Various end-use industries with demand for metal nanopowders include pharmaceuticals and healthcare, chemical industry, metallurgy, electrical and electronics, aerospace, defence, automotive, personal care, cosmetics, painting and coating, ceramics and glass, and many others. Therefore, continuous development in these industries conveys promising opportunities for the growth of nanopowders.

FORECAST OF GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR NANOPOWDERS

Experts predict a significant increase in demand for nanopowders from enterprises in the aerospace, energy, metallurgical and automotive industries. The aircraft industry and the military-industrial complex, according to experts, will maintain a steady demand for certain types of nanopowders. It should be noted that nanopowders are widely used in other various fields of practice. In medicine and pharmacology, for example, nickel and iron nanopowders are used to treat cancer. Silver nanopowders are used as disinfectants. Moreover, gold nanopowders are now being used in Covid-19 antibody test kits. And various other nanopowders are used for the production of biocidal materials, bio prostheses, and for the creation of test systems for genetic diagnosis of human diseases.

Metal powders are considered beneficial in nature for various industries. Consumption of silica, titanium and alumina is also predicted to increase significantly. Rare-earth metal oxides and complex nanopowders will become increasingly important in the electronics and manufacturing industries. Moreover, the growth of orders for the aerospace industry can significantly increase consumption of metal nanopowders. Another trend in the nanopowder market is related to the increased research and development. Extended research enables to discover additional advantages and possibilities of using nanopowders. It should be noted that the cost-to-profit ratio of nanopowders is approximately 1 to 5. And this figure is several times higher than that of the energy and electronics industries combined.

World consumption of metal nanopowders by industry.

Annual production of pure metal powders.

Many solid metal elements are commercially available as pure metal powders. However, additional steps are needed for further industrial applications. Average world costs for the production of homogeneous metal powders with a high degree of purity are much higher than for the production of metal oxides. The technology for the production of high-purity metal nanopowders offered by Technano Innovation reduces costs of traditional methods of production by 7–10 times.

GROWTH FACTORS OF MOLYBDENUM TRIOXIDE NANOPOWDER MARKET

The molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanopowder market is developing and has great growth potential. MoO3 market segmentation also falls on North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Technological achievements and strong end-user demand are the driving forces of growing markets.

End-industry demand for MoO3 comes from, for instance, aerospace, defence industry, packaging materials, catalyst additives for petroleum refining processes, automotive components, and many others. MoO3 high temperature resistance, durability, density, radiation protection, and ductility properties make it an important element for the aerospace and defence industries. High strength and low weight allow MoO3 to reduce vibration and increase comfort for pilots and passengers. It is also used as a stabiliser on aircraft control surfaces, rotor blades, cockpit instrument panel. Thus, the predicted continuous growth of these sectors determines the growth in demand for MoO3.

In traditional methods for the production of nanopowders, high production costs cause adverse effects on productivity and life cycle in end-user industries. Nevertheless, as noted earlier, Technano Innovation’s innovative technology can significantly reduce costs of production.

According to the forecasts of analytical agencies, the application nanopowders will lead most of the nanotechnology research in the next 5 years.

APPLICATIONS OF HIGH-PURITY NANOPOWDERS

Vanadium   (V)
   Catalyst

   Ferrous metallurgy

   Rocket science

   Energy
Tungsten   (W)
   Production of coatings and polymers

   Additive technologies
Molybdenum   (Mo)
  Catalyst (including for the production of nanotubes)

  Steel industry

  Production of coatings, polymers (including in the automotive industry)

  Inhibitor and lubricant in oil refining
Gold   (Au)
   Electronics

   Medicine (DNA marker)

   Catalyst

   Additive technologies (jewelry)
Platinum   (Pt)
   Electronics

   The medicine

   Additive technologies (jewelry)

   Production of hydrogen fuel cells
Niobium   (Nb)
  Steel alloying component

  Laser and piezo materials

  Rocket science

  Chemical equipment

  Superconducting devices
Rhenium   (Re)
   Alloys for rocket science

   Alloys for the aviation industry

   Production of protective coatings

   Refining Catalyst

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES WITH EQUAL VOLUME OF PRODUCTION (100 TONS/YEAR)

Traditional
Innovative
Equipment costs, million USD
700
70
Costs of auxiliary materials per annum, million USD
4
0.5
Energy demand, kW
3 500
350
Number of stages of production, units
12-15
1
Investment payback period, months
48-60
12-18
  1. Technano Innovation technology was developing over 15 years. An industrial plant for the production of molybdenum trioxide nanopowder is in place
  2. The technology is successfully applied in the Republic of Uzbekistan, where a plant for the industrial production of highpurity metal powder of molybdenum trioxide is built.
  3. The technology is constantly being improved, which makes it possible to regularly expand the list of obtained powders of rare and noble metals.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The observed stable global trend in the development of nanotechnologies opens new markets for capital investment and obtaining super-profits. Developed and developing countries are increasing their capacity to use nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. Due to the increase in demand for powders and their limited supply on the market, there is a steady increase in prices for metal nanopowders. Number of industries and goods, where metal nanopowders are actively used, is increasing every year.

Technano Innovationoffers an innovative branch in the industry – the gas metallurgy in the industrial production of rare and noble metals. Technano Innovation developed an innovative technology for the industrial production of rare and noble metals, which has no analogues in the world practice. This technology makes it possible to extract nanopowders of rare and noble metals in one stage and of very high purity.

Production is characterized by high profitability and does not require:

  1. High costs for the technological process;
  2. Large production area;
  3. Excessive electricity consumption;
  4. Expensive reagents.
  1. The production is environmentally clean:
    The whole system works in a closed cycle and there are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere, no effluents, and no disposal of industrial waste is required.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT

• Lack of competition in the world for the production of nano-powders of molybdenum trioxide with purity of 99.995–99.999%, due to the dispersion and bulk density, and pricing.

• Possibility of producing nanopowders of rare earth and noble metals by the same method.

• Availability of the own area and production factory on the territory of the industrial zone of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

• Availability of high-tech, automated equipment fitted with the necessary protection and interlock systems that guarantee industrial and environmental safety.

• Availability of utilities and ability to connect additional capacity to the existing infrastructure facilities.

• Availability of appropriate qualified production specialists in the company’s staff.

• Guaranteed and stable product quality, and stable growth in global consumption.

Thus, the project has big potential, providing a high margin of investment and high efficiency.

EFFECTS OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION

Financial
High profitability of production
Fast return on investment
High profitability of products
Economical
Sales stability of finished products
Stability of raw materials market
Annual world consumption growth
Social
Creation of a new industry and article of the country’s GDP
Creation of new jobs
Growth of the level of innovativeness of the country’s economy
Industrial
Rapid deployment of production
Modular production scale-up
Innovative technology
High profitability of production
Fast return on investment
High profitability of products
Sales stability of finished products
Annual world consumption growth
Rapid deployment of production
Modular production scale-up

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION

Production of high-purity MoO3 powders with a purity of 99.995-99.999% using the Technano Innovation technology is organised at a plant built in the Republic Uzbekistan (Almalyk city): production capacity is 100-300 tons of high-purity nanopowder per year.

Factory
Production of high-purity powders in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Factory
Production of high-purity powders in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Factory
Production of high-purity powders in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Factory
Production of high-purity powders in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The production of nanopowder at a plant in the Republic of Uzbekistan will allow Technano Innovation to become a global manufacturer and take its rightful place in the market for industrial technologies for producing high-purity nanopowders of rare and noble metals.

Factory

INDUSTRIAL MARKETING

RAW MATERIAL SUPPLIERS

Leading suppliers of raw materials are:

  1. • LUOYANG HI-TECH METALS CO., LTD., CHINA
  2. • CM CHEMIEMETALL GMBH, GERMANY

SALES CHANNELS

Consumers of finished products of high-purity molybdenum nanopowders are:

  1. • CM CHEMIEMETALL GmbH, Germany
  2. • PLANSEE WERK, Austria
  3. • SUN QUALIA, Japan

Long-term professional relations with the consumers of raw materials are established.

Volume of deliveries of high-purity molybdenum nanopowders is determined by the production capacity.

Pricing policy is determined by supply and demand in the world market of high-purity metal nanopowders.

Price growth trend: the number of consumers of high-purity metal nanopowders is growing, with a technologically limited supply from manufacturers.

INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT

The Head of State S. M. Mirziyoyev determined that enhanced industrial development is one of the most important components of the economic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Head of State stated that “we are pursuing a policy of reducing export of raw materials, diversifying and increasing production of high value-added products.”

By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated September 21, 2018, No. UP-5544 “On approval of Strategy for innovative development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019-2021”, it was noted that, “An important condition for the dynamic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the accelerated introduction of modern innovative technologies in sectors of the economy, social and other spheres with wide application of the achievements of science and technology”.

An important milestone in the implementation of the policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of metallurgy, innovative development and transfer of new technologies to the economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan was the implementation of the investment project “Production of nanopowder of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) with a purity of 99.995-99.999% with high dispersion (particle size 20-80 nM) in the city of Almalyk.”

The project was implemented by GOR Investment Ltd., which fully implemented all stages of construction and its commissioning, including project development, negotiations with all interested parties, investment attraction, loans, and recruiting specialists from the moment construction started.

The unique technology for the production of molybdenum trioxide nanopowders is the company’s own development, which allows the company to occupy its individual niche in the world market of high-purity molybdenum trioxide, in the face of ever-growing demand.

The factory is the embodiment of innovative technology, engineering, and process automation in the metallurgical industry, with the use of modern equipment installed in its own production area.

Due to the use of a unique energy-saving technology, the nanopowder production factory is environmentally clean and fully complies with the modern international norms and rules in the field of energy saving and nature protection.

Products of this innovative investment project will be used in instrument making, construction and quarry equipment industry, machinery, aircraft building, household appliances production, locally and globally. And thus, this project will seek to contribute to the sustainable innovative development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with the directions indicated by the Head of State.