News
ENICON, member of the Cluster Hub for Production of Raw Materials for Batteries
ENICON project is a founding member of the Cluster Hub for Production of Raw Materials for Batteries from European Resources https://www.materialsforbatterieshub.eu
Deep learning regression for quantitative LIBS analysis of aluminium scrap
The Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) research group (SIM2 – KU Leuven) developed a Deep Learning regression method for the quantitative analysis of aluminium post-consumer scrap using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The work is published in Spectrochimica Acta Part B.
Cement and Concrete: From the Romans to Mars (Special Issue in Elements)
SIM² KU Leuven geologists Prof. Jan Elsen and Prof. Ruben Snellings are proud to announce the publication of the Elements Special Issue “Cement and Concrete: From the Romans to Mars”.
Classification of aluminium scrap by LIBS and RGB/D image fusion
KU Leuven’s LCE research group (SIM² KU Leuven) has demonstrated how data fusion of LIBS spectra and color (RGB) and Depth (D) images can improve the sorting of post-consumer aluminium scrap into commercially-interesting fractions.
Ben Gilliams: “Pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy are like yin and yang”
Following a 25-year VP-level career at Umicore, Ben Gilliams has decided to make a remarkable career switch. On January 9, Ben started as Senior Valorisation Director at SOLVOMET ISC, one of SIM² KU Leuven’s innovation flagships.
The Twelve Principles of Circular Hydrometalllurgy
The SOLVOMET Group is delighted to announce the publication of its long-awaited position paper “The Twelve Principles of Circular Hydrometalllurgy” in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
Top submerged lance gas injection technology for metal production & recycling
SIM² KU Leuven researchers and their co-authors published a review on the fundamental flow physics of top-submerged lance (TSL) gas injection technology/process in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B.
Purification of Ge(IV) in milliflow reactors
SIM2 KU Leuven researchers demonstrated that the dilution of the ionic liquid [A336][HSO4] improves the hydrodynamics and the mass-transfer performance of the purification of Ge(IV) by solvent extraction in milliflow reactors.
Disclosure of SOLVOMET’s process for converting LiCl into battery-grade LiOH·H2O
In May 2020 the SOLVOMET Group filed the patent application “Method for producing battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate” that became public in November 2021. The second part of the patented flowsheet is now fully disclosed in JSM.
Antimony recovery from Sb-rich slag by top blowing nitrogen in molten slag bath
SIM² KU Leuven – HiTemp researchers studied the antimony recovery from antimony-rich slag by top-blowing nitrogen into a molten slag bath. The results have been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
“(Re)mining extractive waste – Perspectives for the EU?” (15-11-2022, Brussels)
On November 15, 20222, the closing event for NEMO was organised as a Satellite Event of the 7th EU Raw Materials week. The key outcomes of the project were presented. All presentations are now available.
Final EU CROCODILE video released during EU Raw Materials week
The closing EU CROCODILE video has been released. Featuring Nand Peeters (KU Leuven), Flavia Forte (Eco Recycling) and Zhangqi Wang (Accurec), the video covers the recycling value chain for the recovery and refining of Co from spent Li-ion batteries.
Documentary “Responsible Mining in Europe”: what the experts say
On October 20, 2022, the documentary “Responsible Mining in Europe: A new paradigm to counter climate change” was officially launched. Here we provide an overview of testimonials as obtained from various experts worldwide.
“(Re)mining extractive waste – Perspectives for the EU?” (November 15, Brussels)
SAVE THE DATE for the satellite event of the EU Raw Materials Week “(Re)mining extractive waste – Perspectives for the EU?” (Closing NEMO event – Le Plaza Hotel, Brussels, 15 November 2022, 2 pm).
Systematic quantification of Waste Electric & Electronic Equipment plastics
The KU Leuven’s lifecycle engineering (LCE) research group (SIM² – KU Leuven) has explored a new methodology to systematically quantify the composition of WEEE plastics. The work was published in the MDPI journal Sustainability.
How green are choline chloride-ethylene glycol based deep-eutectic solvents?
SOLVOMET/SIM2 researchers have demonstrated in the journal Green Chemistry that choline chloride-ethylene glycol based deep-eutectic solvents (DESs) are not stable during high-temperature leaching processes for cobalt recovery.
Real-time classification of Al scrap with LIBS using deep/machine learning
The KU Leuven’s lifecycle engineering (LCE) research group (SIM² – KU Leuven) has explored a new methodology using Deep Learning (DL) for the classification of spectra of scrap metals. The work was published in Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy.
Zinc fuming kinetics in a bubble-stirred molten slag bath (for slag recycling)
SIM² KU Leuven’s HiTemp Group studied the zinc fuming kinetics in a bubble-stirred molten slag bath in view of the recovery of Zn from Zn-bearing slags. The results were published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B.
Francisco Veiga Simão obtains PhD on using sulphidic mining waste in building ceramics
Francisco Veiga Simão obtains PhD on “Sustainable use of (cleaned) sulphidic mining waste in building ceramics”.
Jillian Helser obtains PhD on environmental and health risk assessments of mine wastes
On June 17, 2022, Jillian Helser (SIM2 KU Leuven Institute and Early Stage Researcher in the MSCA-ETN SULTAN project) obtained her PhD degree in Science.
Srećko Bevandić obtains PhD on Geometallurgical characterisation of Zn-Pb mine waste
On May 9, 2022, Srećko Bevandić (SIM2 KU Leuven Institute and Early Stage Researcher in the MSCA-ETN SULTAN project) obtained his PhD degree in Geology.
SIM² wins prestigious EU project on by-product recovery from Li mining (EXCEED)
SIM² KU Leuven has secured Horizon Europe funding for the IA EXCEED project, which stands for “Cost-effective, sustainable and responsible extraction routes for recovering distinct critical metals and industrial minerals as by-products from key EU hard-rock lithium projects”.
Four lessons learned from PROMETIA Tech Tour 2022 – Northern Sweden
During 4 days, young students and researchers from 9 different institutions gathered in Sweden to visit mines, smelters, R&D centers and industrial plants. Here is the report of Carlos Quintero (SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven).
Battery-grade lithium chloride production by solvometallurgy
In May 2020 the SOLVOMET Group filed the patent application “Method for producing battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate” that became public in November 2021. The first part of the patented flowsheet is now disclosed in JSM.
Panagiotis Xanthopoulos obtains PhD on recovery of metal ions by ion flotation
On June 8, 2022, Panagiotis Xanthopoulos (SOLVOMET/SIM2 & MSCA-ETN SULTAN) obtained his PhD degree in Chemistry. He successfully defended his PhD thesis “Recovery of metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions by ion flotation”.
Comparison of mixer-settlers and an agitated column in cobalt/nickel SX
Within the framework of the EU Horizon 2020 project NEMO, SOLVOMET/SIM2 researchers have compared the effect of mixer-settlers and agitated columns on the separation of cobalt and nickel with Cyanex 272.
Pushing the boundaries of advanced materials characterisation (June 3, 2022)
On June 3, 2022, 85 SIM²/MRC members participated in the Event “Pushing the boundaries of advanced materials characterisation”, where the pros and cons of techniques incl. QXRD, EPMA, Raman, LA-ICP-MS, APT and IBA were discussed.
Unravelling the chemistry within non-aqueous solvent extraction
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have published their research on the effect of polar organic solvents on the solvent extraction process for rare-earth separation. The research was performed in the framework of the H2020 project NEMO.
Five Lessons Learned from the (Re)Mining Symposium (May 17-18, 2022)
To remine or not to remine extractive waste in Europe? That was the core question during the symposium “(Re)Mining Extractive Waste, A new business?” (Mechelen, May 17-18, 2022). SIM² Director Peter Tom Jones summarises the main lessons learned.
Global perspectives on reprocessing of mine tailings (High-level expert panel)
On March 10, 2022, the joint NEMO/CROCODILE/TARANTULA expert panel discussed the “Global perspectives on the reprocessing of mine tailings”. The objective was to find common ground and to enable the elaboration of specific EU policy recommendations.