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.

SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a process, using EDTA as lixiviant, to selectively leach lead from matte and slag residues originating from lead smelter plants. The work was published in RSC Advances.

SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a process to recycle NdFeB magnets in a water-free process at T > 100 °C to intensify the leaching and change the distribution ratio of REE/iron of typical aqueous SX processes.

The lifecycle engineering (LCE) research group (SIM² KU Leuven) and the European Commission DG Joint Research Centre (Seville) have recently developed two methods to assess the repairability of energy and resource related products.

The lifecycle engineering (LCE) research group of SIM² KU Leuven has developed a new circularity indicator to measure the performance of complex product supply chains. The work is published in Resources Conservation And Recycling.

A joint team of SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET & ArcelorMittal researchers have just published a critical review paper on the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from steel industry by-products in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.

A team of SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET & ArcelorMittal researchers has developed an ammoniacal leaching process to valorise Zn-rich BOF sludges from the steel industry. The work was published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.

A joint team of SIM² KU Leuven/ProCESS and ARKEMA researchers have corroborated how the use of ultrasound led to faster reaction times and more controlled particle size distribution during NaX zeolite synthesis.

SIM² KU Leuven/ProCESS researchers have corroborated how the use of ultrasound increased the potential of flow crystallisation by combining high yield with polymorph control. The work was published in Chemical Engineering.

SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers have developed an ammoniacal solvoleaching process to extract copper from high-grade chrysocolla copper silicate ores. The work was published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.

SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers have unravelled the effect of dissolved chloride salts on the structure of water and on the complex formation of metal ions with chlorides. The work was published in the journal Inorganic Chemistry.

SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers have developed a green process to extract gold from anode slimes, using the biobased diethyl carbonate (DEC) as extractant. The work was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

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.

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.