OUR MISSION
To develop, organise & implement problem-driven, science-deep research & future-oriented education, contributing to the environmentally friendly production & recycling of metals, minerals & engineered materials, supporting (…) a climate-friendly, circular-economy. Read more >
News
Effect of pH and hydrogen bond donor on the dissolution of metal oxides in DES
Ioanna Maria Pateli and colleagues from the University of Leicester used Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) to extract various metal oxides. Read more about their work which was published in Green Chemistry.
New ETN SOCRATES Policy Brief on European Green Deal
The EU’s metallurgical infrastructure is a cornerstone of the EU Green Deal; that is the title of the final SOCRATES Policy Brief, authored by the colleagues from Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology.
“Recycling the strongest metals”, TARANTULA’s new video
Referring to the Greek mythological figure of Tantalus, Seftel Elena Mihaela (VITO) and Martina Orefice (KU Leuven) explain the concept of the TARANTULA project in this new animated video: “Recycling the strongest metals”.
Solvometallurgy to the rescue of rare-earth elements (REEs)
Blog article by Early Stage Researcher Marianna Pateli (ETN SOCRATES) who recycled rare-earth elements (REEs) from spent fluorescent lamps using a solvometallurgical approach, using mild and green solvents.
Meet our SIM² colleagues
Meet our SIM² KU Leuven colleague: Dr. Thomas Abo Atia
As of August 1, 2020, Thomas Abo Atia is a new postdoc at the SOLVOMET Group (Department of Chemistry). His work will focus on the development of novel, eco-friendly hydrometallurgical extraction, recovery and recycling processes.
Meet our colleague: Piet Wostyn (SOLVOMET – SIM² KU Leuven)
Piet Wostyn works as a hybrid project manager & researcher for the SOLVOMET Group (SIM² KU Leuven). His work comprises both EU project management and PhD research on the Social License to Operate of mining & recycling processes.
Research Results
New solvometallurgical process for the extraction of indium using ionic liquids
SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a novel solvometallurgical approach to extract indium from an ethylene glycol feed solution by the ionic liquid Cyphos IL 101. This work was published in the journal RSC Advances.
Reconstructing the exploitation of antimony 4,000 years back
SIM² KU Leuven researchers, together with colleagues from Ghent and Cranfield University, reconstructed the exploitation of antimony 4,000 years back, by developing a new approach to sourcing ancient mines using Sb isotope ratios.
