Within the framework of the MSCA-ETN SULTAN project SIM² KU Leuven researchers have characterised the historic Zn-Pb mine waste from the tailings pond located at Plombières, East Belgium. The work was published in Minerals.
SIM² KU Leuven, University of Leiden & University of Birmingham researchers carried out the first Life Cycle Inventory on the production of SmCo5 and compared it with NdFeB. The latter represents the more sustainable option.
SOLVOMET/SIM2 KU Leuven researchers developed a process to remove trace concentrations of Cd, Zn and Mn from simulated diluted mine waters via foam separation. The work was published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have enhanced the separation of neodymium and dysprosium by replacing the aqueous phase in their solvent extraction process largely by a green solvent. The work was published in ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng.
In collaboration with TU Berlin, the SIM² KU Leuven Lifecycle Engineering (LCE) research group published a study that provides key knowledge on potential opportunities and limits of repair data for specific repair applications.
SIM² KU Leuven geologists Fernando Araujo, Niels Hulsbosch and Philippe Muchez have succeeded in mapping the lithium-bearing ore minerals montebrasite-amblygonite in pegmatites using Raman spectroscopy.
The SIM² KU Leuven Lifecycle Engineering (LCE) research group, the Australian National University and the University of Tokyo have compared the influence of ELV legislation on vehicle material circularity performance.
SIM² KU Leuven geologists Hulsboch and Muchez were able to assess the impact of fluid immiscibility on the fractionation and precipitation of lithium, tantalum and tin in pegmatites from Rwanda. The work was published in Lithos.
In the framework of ETN SULTAN, SIM² KU Leuven researchers have assessed the chemical and mineralogical characterisation of sulphidic mine waste to understand the environmental & health risks of the metals within the mine waste.
Researchers from the Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) research group (SIM² KU Leuven) used X-Ray images of WEEE and applied a deep neural network to automatically detect the location of batteries to improve removal and recycling.
KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals – Kasteelpark Arenberg 44 – Leuven 3001, Belgium
SIM² KU Leuven is the new KU Leuven Institute on Sustainable Metals and Minerals, one of the 4 flagship KU Leuven Institutes. SIM² mission is to develop, organise and implement problem-driven, science-deep research and future-oriented education, contributing to the environmentally friendly production and recycling of metals, minerals and engineered materials, supporting the transition to a climate-friendly, circular-economy.