Research Results
Highly selective process developed to recover germanium
Germanium is a precious metal which is mainly used as a semiconductor in electronics and infrared optic industries, and as a polymerisation catalyst for the production of polyethylene terephthalate. Due to its high supply risk and its high economic importance, germanium is considered as one of Europe’s critical metals.
Solvometallurgical recovery of metals from SmCo magnets
A solvometallurgical route for recycling of SmCo permanent magnets was developed by researchers from the SOLVOMET Group (SIM² KU Leuven). The method is based on non-aqueous solvent extraction to minimize water consumption.
The work is published in Separation and Purification Technology.
Occurrence of rare earths in post-processed bauxite residue
In the framework of the EU MSCA-ETN REDMUD project, the occurrence mode of selected rare earths in neutralised-leached bauxite residue was studied by KU Leuven and NTUA. The work is published in Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
Deep Eutectic Solvents for solubilisation of metal oxides
The SOLVOMET Group (SIM² KU Leuven), which develops solvometallurgical flow sheets, has synthesized new Deep Eutectic Solvents that can selectively dissolve metal oxides from industrial residues derived from the mining industry.
Selective metal recovery from Fe-rich industrial residues
Within the EU H2020 SOCRATES project, SIM² KU Leuven developed a process to selectively recover lead and zinc from iron-rich jarosite residue of the zinc industry. The work is published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Ionic liquids for REE recovery from lamp phosphor waste
Within the EU REMAGHIC project, KU Leuven developed a process to recover yttrium and europium from a mixed oxide obtained by the processing of lamp phosphor waste based on solvent extraction with undiluted thiocyanate ionic liquids.
Selective REE recovery from bauxite residue slags
In the framework of ETN REDMUD, an integrated process was developed by KU Leuven and RWTH Aachen to selectively recover Fe and REEs from slags produced during smelting of bauxite residue. The work is published in Hydrometallurgy.
How circular is the household metal packaging cycle?
Researchers at SIM² KU Leuven & VVSG investigated the circularity of the household metal packaging cycle in Flanders. They found remarkable discrepancies between experimental (sorting) data and reported literature data.
Metal recovery from spent samarium-cobalt magnets
Metals in spent samarium-cobalt magnet can be recovered by oxidative dissolution of metals in trichloride ionic liquids, followed by metal removal from the leachate with a series of stripping steps. The ionic liquids can be reused for next cycles after regeneration.
Reclaiming the treasure hidden in old CRT monitors and TVs
Within the EU H2020 REMAGHIC project, a process was developed by KU Leuven & TECNALIA to recover rare earths from CRT phosphor waste based on roasting and leaching with the green solvents acetic acid and methanesulphonic acid.
Are Chinese policies disrupting the REE supply chain?
New work by SIM² KU Leuven researchers published in Resources Conservation and Recycling demonstrates that the government policies have a much larger influence on the rare-earth supply chain disruption than physical disruptions.
New process to recover indium from iron-rich solutions
SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a new, selective method to recover indium from iron-rich solutions. This work, funded through EU METGROW+, was published as a golden open access paper in Separation and Purification Technology.
Recovering rare earths from old TVs and computer screens
SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a new method to recover valuable rare earth elements from waste CRT phosphor powder, using selective sulfation roasting and water leaching. This work was published in Hydrometallurgy.
Green (IL-based) solvents developed to dissolve gold
KU Leuven researchers developed new leaching solutions to dissolve metals, based on non-volatile ionic liquids (ILs). This work on dissolving gold without gas formation was published in Green Chemistry.
The Quest of the Negative Sequence (for extraction of REEs)
The extraction of lanthanides from nitrate media with basic nitrate extractants shows a remarkable decreasing trend when going from left to right in the lanthanide series. The Binnemans SOLVOMET group is taking the first step.
Novel Sm/Co separation process for SmCo magnets
SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a novel approach to separate samarium from cobalt originating from SmCo magnets. Their newly published paper introduces very simple and cheap-to-maintain solvent extraction processes.
MSA: a green solvent for the recovery of REEs
Within the EU Horizon 2020 REMAGHIC project, SIM² KU Leuven developed a novel process to recover rare earths (REEs) from lamp phosphor waste by dissolution in concentrated methanesulphonic acid (MSA), which is a green solvent.
Scandium in Greek bauxite and bauxite residue
In the context of the EU Horizon 2020 MSCA-ETN REDMUD project, an international team of researchers have published one of the most detailed ever characterisation studies of the occurrence of scandium in Greek bauxite (residue).
Thermal stability of ionic liquid Cyphos IL 101
In collaboration with Umicore, SIM² KU Leuven researchers investigated the thermal stability of the ionic liquid Cyphos IL 101 under various experimental conditions. The work was published in the journal Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.
Novel approach to phosphinates and phosphonates
In the framework of the ERC SOLCRIMET project SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a versatile procedure to prepare phosphinate and phosphonate compounds, which are instrumental as solvent extraction reagents for multiple metals.
Purification of In(OH)3 using the IL [Hbet][Tf2N]
Together with Umicore SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a new process to purify crude indium(III) hydroxide, In(OH)3, using a combined leaching/extraction system exploiting the properties of the ionic liquid [Hbet][Tf2N].
Non-aqueous SX provides enhanced separations
In the framework of the ERC SOLCRIMET project KU Leuven researchers have found that replacement of water by ethylene glycol provides enhanced selectivity in the solvent extraction of transitions metals from rare earth elements.
Separation of REEs from bauxite residue leachate
This new RSC Advances paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a novel supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) for the uptake of REEs (Sc, Y, Nd, Dy) in the presence of base elements (Ca, Al, Fe) from bauxite residue (BR) leachates.
New paper on the effect of the diluent in REE SX
This new Hydrometallurgy paper by Kumar Batchu and Binnemans studies the effect of the diluent) on the solvent extraction of Nd using D2EHPA as extractant. Studied diluents varied from aliphatic, aliphatic-aromatic to aromatic.
