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PCI Gases Brazil & Pioneiro Ecometais: Reducing Costs and Strengthening Sustainability in Battery Recycling
Driving Efficiency in Battery Recycling with On-Site Oxygen Generation
Pioneiro Ecometais, a leader in lead battery recycling in Brazil, has found a reliable solution in PCI Gases’ on-site oxygen generation technology. The system helps the company reduce costs, improve flexibility, and secure autonomy in its smelting operations.
The marketing team at PCI Brazil spoke with Vinicius Ferreira, Director of Pioneiro Ecometais, who shared his experience with PCI’s oxygen systems and the impact on the company’s operations.
Significant Cost Reductions in Furnace Operations
“Since we started using on-site oxygen generation, including the PCI plant, we saw a direct impact in reducing the cost of oxygen in our furnace operations,” says Ferreira.
Even when accounting for plant maintenance and electricity consumption, Pioneiro Ecometais reports significant savings compared to large oxygen suppliers. As a result, self-generation of oxygen is directly linked to lowering the cost of this essential raw material.
Reliable Performance in Combustion Processes
One of the main questions when switching to on-site oxygen is whether purity levels would affect performance. PCI’s technology provides oxygen at around 90% purity, while traditional suppliers deliver above 99%.
“In theory, purchased oxygen would have superior performance due to higher purity. However, in our combustion process we did not identify any relevant differences, either positive or negative, when replacing oxygen partially or fully with PCI’s plant,” Ferreira explains.
This proves that PCI’s on-site system has the full capacity to safely supply the oxygen required for lead rotary furnace combustion.
Autonomy, Flexibility, and Long-Term Value
Ferreira acknowledges that the payback period for the plant is estimated at 5 to 5.5 years, which can vary depending on usage levels. Yet the benefits extend far beyond financial return.
“The plant guarantees us peace of mind and flexibility in cost management. With good control over maintenance and electricity, we can reduce the cost of oxygen production and make it more competitive. ” says Ferreira.
By using PCI technology, Pioneiro Ecometais gains autonomy to manage a critical input for its smelting and battery recycling processes.
PCI’s oxygen generation systems not only reduce costs but also contribute to better control, flexibility, and environmental responsibility in industries that depend on oxygen supply.
Looking to the future, PCI Gases Brazil will continue supporting Pioneiro Ecometais as its operations expand.
Reshape Your Tomorrow!
VSA Technology
To produce oxygen from air, PCI uses a proprietary Vacuum Swing Adsorption (VSA) process that eliminates many of the design problems associated with traditional on-site gas separation systems (PSA). Our innovative VSA system eliminates the need for process valves, feed air compressors, associated dryers and feed air filtering systems. Our robust VSA oxygen process extracts maximum sieve and power efficiencies = low cost (both CapX and OpX) high purity oxygen generation. Oxygen produced is 93% purity. Additional product/systems features include load following, remote monitoring and diagnostics along with an industry only 10-year warranty on the adsorber bed vessel. Average life span of our systems is 10-15+ years.
About PCI Gases
PCI Gases, headquartered in Riverside, California, is a global leader in advanced on-site gas generation systems. Specializing in VSA technology for oxygen production, the company has been delivering innovative gas separation solutions since 1984. PCI Gases serves a wide range of industries, including medical, industrial, aquaculture, biogas, water treatment, and military applications.With a mission to empower industries by providing autonomy in oxygen and nitrogen supply, PCI Gases helps clients reduce costs and improve sustainability. Their vision is to decentralize gas supply, offering economical and environmentally responsible solutions worldwide. Through a commitment to innovation and operational efficiency, PCI Gases continues to reshape industries and enhance the total cost of ownership for their customers.
Posted September 25, 2025
