Optimizing Magnesium Recovery Technology to Efficiently Reclaim Magnesium and Provide Desired Purity Levels for Future Weapons Production Requirements.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) seeks to provide responsive, best value supplies consistently to our customers. DLA continually investigates diverse recycling technologies which would lead to the highest level of innovation with a future impact on both commercial technology and government applications. As such, advanced technology demonstrations for affordability and advanced industrial practices to demonstrate the combination of improved discrete-parts recycling and improved business methods are of interest. All these areas of recycling technologies provide potential avenues toward achieving breakthrough advances. Proposed efforts funded under this topic may encompass any specific recycling technology at any level resulting in a unit cost reduction of metal recovery. Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) is a leader in the demilitarization, storage, and manufacturing of conventional munitions. CAAA is always looking for new and innovative methods to demilitarize and produce conventional weapons while keeping safety and the environment at the forefront of these operations. CAAA recognizes the importance that earth metals play in the security and independence of the United States. As such, CAAA strives to reclaim these metals from munitions and reuse in the manufacturing of new world class munitions. DESCRIPTION: CAAA is looking for domestic capability to develop an efficient method to reclaim magnesium and generate a usable product that satisfies required purity level while also being in a form that lends itself for efficient shipping, storage, and production. Currently, there are munitions containing 14 different formulations that contain magnesium, equating to over 1.06 million pounds of magnesium in the Army demilitarization account. The top 6 items account for 755,207 pounds of magnesium molecular formula items (71%). Of these 755,207 pounds, 279,786 pounds are located at CAAA. Demilitarizing these top 6 items not only provide badly needed magnesium but will also reduce the items to be demilitarized by over 12 million units, with over 6 million of these at CAAA. At the current rate of $31.11/lb. of magnesium, reclaiming 90% of the 755,207 pounds could save over $21 million for Joint Munitions Command (JMC). Tasks involved would include evaluating the formulations to determine feasibility of reclaiming magnesium from each unique formula. Develop an efficient process that has minimal melt loss while providing the desired purity levels (up to 98% magnesium, depending on required form of material) and the required quantity. Process should also be cost effective and environmentally friendly to operate with very minimal waste generated. CAAA will provide the feedstock material from the demilitarization account. This system would provide much needed resources to help maintain the United States security and assist in maintaining the United States independence from foreign entities. PHASE I: Not to exceed a duration of 12 months and cost of $100,000. a. Determine if each formulations containing magnesium lends to being processed for magnesium reclamation. b. Determine the technical and production feasibility of the concept. c. Provide a plan to demonstrate the concept with implementation timing. d. Also, determine the most efficient process/method to dispose of generated waste of this process, with emphasis on zero landfill options. PHASE II: Not to exceed a duration of 24 months and cost of $1,800,000. a. Develop a laboratory scale prototype that demonstrates the desired system capabilities for production quantities and magnesium purity levels with acceptable metal cleanliness. b. The prototype must satisfy CAAA safety requirements. CAAA will provide testing parameters to ensure all requirements are met and monitored. c. The successful candidate will demonstrate all system processes and testing. Validation to include, but not limited to' i.The agreed to production quantities, ii. Data analysis, iii. Magnesium analysis, or simulations. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: A Public-Private Partnership (P3) will be established to demilitarize items and reclaim magnesium at CAAA. DoD as the primary customer will utilize the recovered magnesium in various applications. The Anticipated requirement is approximately 150,000 Lbs. of recovered Magnesium per year. REFERENCES: 1. https://ndiastorage.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/ndia/2007/global_demil/SessionIIIB/1555Ochs.pdf 2. https://hero.epa.gov/hero/index.cfm/reference/details/reference_id/7683605 KEYWORDS: magnesium, reclamation, demilitarization, recycle