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
Enhancing metal separation by non-aqueous solvent extraction: a critical review
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have published a critical review paper in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research on the different systems and mechanisms of non-aqueous solvent extraction, providing a framework for future processes.
Solvometallurgical process for the recovery of tungsten from scheelite
SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a conceptual flowsheet for the non-aqueous recovery of tungsten from low-grade scheelite sources. The work was published in the journal Industrial and Chemical Engineering Research.
Deep learning a grasping method with a vacuum gripper for the recycling of WEEE
The lifecycle engineering research group (LCE/SIM² KU Leuven) has developed a grasping method that allows to pick unknown-randomly oriented WEEE objects with a vacuum gripper. The work was published in J. Intell. Robot. Syst.
New Thematic Section on extractive waste in Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy
SULTAN, the EU Training Network for the remediation and reprocessing of sulphidic mining waste sites, has launched its long-awaited Thematic Section in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, comprising 10 research papers.
Meet our SIM² colleagues
“Mining of critical metals has to bring economic and social benefits to Africa”
Anouk Borst recently started as an Assistant Professor at KU Leuven, a job that she combines with her geological research for the Royal Museum for Central Africa. Find out about Anouk’s research in this new SIM² interview.
“Recycling of lithium-ion batteries is no longer an option but a necessity.”
With a background in hydrometallurgy and recycling, Giuseppe Granata recently started as an Associate Professor at KU Leuven Campus Group T. His work in Leuven will focus on critical metal recovery from secondary resources.
Research Results
Recovery of copper, zinc and lead from photovoltaic panel residues
Within the EU ETN SULTAN and PEACOC projects, SOLVOMET/SIM2 KU Leuven and VITO researchers developed a process to recover copper, zinc and lead from chloride leachates of PV residues. The work was published in RSC Advances.
Enhancing metal separation by non-aqueous solvent extraction: a critical review
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have published a critical review paper in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research on the different systems and mechanisms of non-aqueous solvent extraction, providing a framework for future processes.
