Recycling of Magnesium Alloy Using the Gravity-Driven Multiple-Effect Thermal System (G-METS)

Magnesium metal has been significantly used in commercial applications from automobiles to aluminum alloys to defense weaponry. The surge in structural usage of magnesium over the past years has been due to high strength and excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio. Recycling magnesium scrap is a crucial aspect of the sustainability of the economy and environmental welfare. G-METS is an advanced distillation system used in the conversion of low-grade magnesium scrap into high-purity magnesium metal. This multiple-effect system uses the weight of magnesium as a compressor, to build pressure differences between each effect of the condenser-evaporator, modifying boiling points, and enabling transfer of vaporization enthalpy. This system is exceptionally efficient compared to the energy-intensive conventional distillation technique. This study compares experiments and models of one- and two-effect distillers.