Elkem technical trainee programme: Navigating work and life in the heart of France's Silicon Valley

New challenges in a familiar setting

As I approach the second half of my first rotation as an Elkem Trainee, I want to reflect on these past few months. As many other trainee blogs have mentioned, starting to work after studies can bring some uncertainties but also pride and confidence. 

I’ve had a very smooth path, as this rotation directly follows my last internship in the Silicones division in R&T in Lyon. It is very comfortable to begin like this, since the setting is familiar and requires little adaptation time. For me, one of the biggest challenges in the trainee programme is being able to adapt to new assignments and colleagues. It is also one of the most stimulating challenges to start your career with, making the Trainee programme very appealing. 

Waste and water: My focus

For now, my focus is on finding a new way of treating the solid waste produced by the Roussillon plant, a subject that complements my background in process chemistry and wastewater treatment. The self-heating waste we need to treat is called black hydrolysate, which is a mix of metal and hydrolysed chlorosilanes. Today, this waste is filtered and burnt; unfortunately, it contains more than 60% water due to the hydrolysis step and encapsulation of water inside the solid.  

As you may have guessed, burning water is not the most effective way to dispose of waste. It is not straightforward to remove this amount of water, but we are exploring three solutions, and by playing with the parameters of the hydrolysis process, we hope to avoid the water being encapsulated in the final waste. These changes, such as removing the self-heating characteristics, and replacing hydrolysis with alcoholysis aim to reduce the cost associated with the treatment and the potential valorisation of metal or reuse of silicon. 

The challenges are very interesting as the project is only starting. Working in the lab to recreate the waste produced at the factory, and then treat it is great and makes sense to reduce operating costs. Usually, we go from lab scale to industrial scale, and we have plenty of experience in such extrapolation. Working the other way around is not very common and can be challenging.

Exploring the art and culture of Lyon

Travelling and adapting to new surroundings is part of the trainee programme, and I’ve enjoyed discovering the area around Lyon. Lyon is not my hometown, and even though I studied here, I still have things to explore and am amazed by the city and its surroundings. 

In Lyon, the 8th of December is a major day of celebration. According to belief, the Virgin Mary, through her protection, allowed the city of Lyon to be spared from the plague. Today, the holiday has evolved into a four-day long light festival known worldwide.  

Light spectacles are projected on the buildings' facades, highlighting the most famous buildings and locations throughout the entire city. The festival has become more popular over the years, so the Lyonnais are a bit reluctant to go and wait to access the streets and the city. Even so, this year was the 25th anniversary of the festival, and the population enjoyed it, especially as it included some of the most popular art pieces from previous years. 

Final reflections

This rotation is a great springboard for me to start my career. I am certainly looking forward to the next rotation, meeting new people, enjoying new places and gathering a lot of experiences. Having this opportunity at the beginning of my career will undoubtedly be fundamental for the future, in terms of both professional and personal development.