ONGOING PROJECTS
- Sustainable Conversion of the Organic Part of Mineral Resources and Secondary Raw Materials to High Value Chemicals, which is funded by Estonian Research Council
- Estonian peat valorization, which is funded by Tallinn University of Technology
- Valorisation of oil shale ash into biodegradable chloride-free snow and de-icing agents, which is funded by Environmental Investment Center
- Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy for Strategic Mineral and Carbon Resources, which is funded by Ministry of Education and Research
COMPLETED PROJECTS
- AS Paldiski Tsingipada – potential improvement of the technological process (2017)
- VKG – literature-based anakysis of new technology possibilities for oil shale oil refining (2017)
- Kerogeen OÜ – a new technological platform for the valorization of oil shale kerogen (2017–2019) (see attached report KEROX I)
- OÜ Sporrong Eesti – determination of acid additives (2019)
- KemiMet International OÜ – determination of chemical additives (2019)
- Kerogeen OÜ – study and improvement of the existing oil shale production and refining technology (2019-2020)
- Kerogeen OÜ – technological platform for the conversion of oil shale kerogen into dicarboxylic acids (2020–2022) (see attached report KEROX II)
As a result of the two most recent projects, a laboratory-scale technology was developed for the direct conversion of oil shale into valuable basic reagents for the chemical industry. This marks the first milestone in establishing a fine chemical industry based on oil shale in Estonia. A laboratory pilot unit for the production of dicarboxylic acids has been completed, and the results obtained with it serve as the foundation for constructing an industrial-scale pilot plant.
On May 24, 2022, to mark the completion of a significant phase in the development work, the laboratory pilot unit for oil shale processing was officially commissioned. Speeches were delivered by Academician Margus Lopp, who led the research efforts, Heiti Hääl as the representative of the commissioning company Alexela, and the Rector of Tallinn University of Technology.