Strategic Residue Diagnostics​
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At HpM, we provide Residue Diagnostic services on an individualized basis for each by-product generated by our clients. This service is defined as a diagnostic because it goes beyond conventional physical and chemical characterization and the identification of potential regeneration routes, having as its central objective the retention of regenerated elements within the originating industry itself.
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Systematic economic analyses of residue utilization and regeneration consistently demonstrate that the highest value creation is achieved, in most cases, when the industry that generates the by-product internalizes the regeneration process—either through specialized third-party services or through horizontal integration strategies—for direct reuse in its own production processes.
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This approach fundamentally differs from conventional residue characterization, as it prioritizes the minimization of external disposal routes and, consequently, the maximization of both technical and economic outcomes associated with internal reuse.
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In this way, HpM’s Residue Diagnostic Service constitutes an integrated solution that combines Engineering and Economic Analysis with the objective of maximizing the intrinsic value of industrial residues.
Residue Diagnostic and Advanced Material Characterization
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At HpM, we employ a comprehensive set of traditional and advanced analytical techniques for the characterization of industrial residues.
Among the well-established methods, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas stereopycnometry, sieve-based particle size analysis, and laser granulometry are applied, covering the full spectrum of classical physical and chemical analyses.
In addition, HpM incorporates modern tools from materials science, such as three-dimensional Material Computed Tomography (3D-MCT), which enables an in-depth understanding not only of individual materials but also of agglomerates developed by HpM.
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Image (A) illustrates the principle by which images are generated in a material tomograph. An X-ray beam is captured by the detector while the sample is rotated, allowing the acquisition of a controlled number of projections, directly correlated with the resolution and magnification targeted in the analysis.
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Image (B) presents an example of four parallel two-dimensional cross-sections obtained from a analyzed residue body. In the case shown, the images were acquired at a 500 µm scale, revealing the internal distribution of material phases throughout the sample volume.
Image (C) shows the three-dimensional rendering of the analyzed body derived from the set of cross-sections presented in Image (B). This technology enables the identification and interpretation of material phases and their interactions and, in the case of agglomerates, allows a comprehensive evaluation of internal bonding features, including structural continuity, number of contact points, porosity, and void volume distribution.
This box illustrates some fundamental traditional methods for material evaluation.
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Image (D) presents a typical X-ray diffraction (XRD) result, widely used for the identification of crystalline phases present in the sample.
Images (E) and (F) show the optical microscopy analysis of a mineral sample under non-polarized light (Image E) and polarized light (Image F). The observation of the optical behavior of the material under different illumination conditions enables the identification of relevant mineralogical features, such as texture, anisotropy, grain morphology, and intergrowth relationships between phases, constituting a traditional yet highly effective tool for material characterization.