Research Results
Can clay minerals act as precursors for eco-friendly cement?
Together with colleagues from the Universities of Bath and Leeds, SIM² KU Leuven researchers have published a critical review paper on alkali-activation of clay minerals in the journal Cement and Concrete Research.
Solvometallurgical process for extraction of copper from sulphidic ore minerals
SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a new solvometallurgical extraction process to produce copper from sulphidic copper ore minerals (e.g. chalcopyrite), allowing to reduce the eco-footprint of primary copper production.
Does cobalt and copper mining lead to birth defects in DR Congo?
SIM² KU Leuven member Prof. Erik Smolders contributed to a milestone paper in The Lancet Planetary Health. A team of Belgian and Congolese researchers studied the effects of mining-related pollution on newborns in Katanga, DRC.
A new solvent extraction system for lithium purification from brines
SIM² KU Leuven – SOLVOMET researchers have developed a novel solvent extraction system to remove magnesium from lithium-rich solutions, allowing a major reduction of the eco-footprint of lithium recovery from brines.
Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo
How sustainable is artisanal cobalt mining in DR Congo? That’s the research question which was addressed in a Nature Sustainability paper by a group of researchers of the University of Lubumbashi in collaboration with a team from KU Leuven.
Transforming red mud in valuable building materials: a critical review
Researchers from the SREMat Group (SIM² KU Leuven) have published a critical review paper on the potential transformation of bauxite residue (“red mud”) into valuable building materials, trying to “put things in perspective”.
Optimisation of wet phosphorus extraction from wastewater treatment sludge ash
Researchers from the ChEMaRTS Research Group (KU Leuven Campus Group T) have developed a method for the extraction of phosphorus from wastewater treatment sludge ash. The work was published in Science of the Total Environment.
Methanesulfonic acid proves its potential in solvometallurgy
Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) has proven again to be a suitable lixiviant for the recovery of valuable metals. Within the SMART project, the SOLVOMET group has developed a solvometallurgical process for the selective recovery of lead and silver from industrial residues.
Selective roasting of NdFeB magnets for ionic liquids leaching intensification
Rare-earths permanent magnets were selectively roasted with 5 wt.% carbon to obtain a rare-earth phase, separated from iron particles. After mechanical removal of the iron particles, the rare-earth phase was recovered in only 20 min by using the ionic liquid [Hbet][Tf2N].
Alkali baking and solvometallurgical leaching of NdFeB magnets
Neodymium-iron-boron or NdFeB magnets are a vital part of our tech-driven world because of their excellent magnetic properties and versatility
Mechanochemically intensified acid-free leaching of rare-earth elements
Researchers from the ProcESS and SOLVOMET Group have developed a mechanochemically intensified acid-free leaching process for the recovery of critical metals from NdFeB magnets
Solvometallurgical separation of Y and Eu in chloride media beats hydro routes
Within the SOLCRIMET project (ERC Advanced Grant), SOLVOMET researchers have developed a solvometallurgical process for the separation of yttrium and europium, showing increased efficiency over conventional hydrometallurgical separation routes. The work has been published in Separation and Purification Technology.
GaCl3 and AlCl3 can be separated by n-Dodecane based on solubility difference
Within the SOLCRIMET project (Advanced ERC Grant) Zheng Li et al. (KU Leuven) and colleagues from the University of Texas (Austin) have developed a solvometallurgical process for the separation of GaCl3 and AlCl3. The work has been published in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.
Understanding alkali-activation of CaO-FeOx-SiO2 non-ferrous slags
CaO-FeOx-SiO2 slags can be used as raw material for alkali-activated materials, i.e. a green alternative to Portland cement. In Cement and Concrete Research, KU Leuven & Princeton University researchers reveal new insights into the reaction mechanisms.
Suitable polar solvents enhance metal separations in liquid-liquid extraction
Within the SOLCRIMET project (ERC Advanced Grant), Zheng Li et al. discovered that selection of suitable polar solvents can enhance metal separations in liquid-liquid extraction. The work has been published in Chem. Eur. J.
On the degradation of choline chloride-carboxylic acid deep eutectic solvents
Within the SMART project, Nerea Rodriguez et al. have shown that Deep Eutectic Solvents based on carboxylic acids and choline chloride are not stable in time nor at high temperatures. The work was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Electrodeposition of indium from trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride
The high thermal stability of Cyphos IL 101 allowed SIM² KU Leuven researchers to investigate the electrochemical behavior of indium at temperatures between 100 °C and 180 °C. The electrochemical deposition of indium followed a two-step process. The work was published in Green Chemistry.
New solvometallurgical method to remove coating from REE permanent magnets
Within the framework of the ETN DEMETER project rare-earth permanent magnets were treated with solvometallurgical solutions to remove the metalllic coating prior to direct recycling. The work is published in RSC Advances
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.
