Research Results
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.
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.
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.
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.
Characterisation of Sb-containing metallurgical residues for Sb recovery
SIM² KU Leuven’s HiTemp Group studied the characterisation of antimony-containing metallurgical residues in view of enhanced antimony recovery. The results were published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
A new CSLM-based approach to study metallurgical slag solidification
SIM² KU Leuven’s HiTemp Group developed an innovative experimental setup to measure the electrical conductivity of slag while observing slag crystallisation. The results were published in Resources, Conservation and Recycling.
Boosting the repair & recycling options for EoL electrical consumer products
The Lifecycle Engineering research group (SIM²) has explored a new procedure to identify EoL electrical products by evaluating an image of the device’s product label. The work was published in Journal of Industrial Ecology.
Cobalt recovery from Li-ion batteries using solvoleaching & solvent extraction
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have published their research on a solvometallurgical process for the recovery of cobalt from lithium-ion batteries in Green Chemistry. The research was performed within the framework of the Horizon 2020 project CROCODILE.
Heavy rare-earth separation process successfully tested on pilot-scale level
Within the context of EU NEMO, SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers developed a non-aqueous solvent extraction process for the separation of heavy rare earths (HREEs). The work was published in Separation & Purification Technology.
Mass estimation & classification of scrap metals using Deep Learning
The Lifecycle Engineering research group (LCE/SIM² KU Leuven) has explored a new methodology for mass estimation and classification of scrap metals using Deep Learning. The work was published in Resources, Conservation and Recycling.
A new study on Nb-Ta-oxide minerals in P-rich rare-element pegmatites (Buranga)
SIM² KU Leuven geologists have described the occurrence of Nb and Ta oxide minerals associated with complex phosphate mineral assemblages in phosphorus-rich pegmatites. The work is published in the American Mineralogist.
Iron-rich slag addition in blended cement systems: can it work?
Within the EU MSCA-ETN SOCRATES project, Jennifer Astoveza investigated the possibility to add iron-rich slag as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in distinct calcium aluminate containing cement systems.
Counter-current ionic liquid metathesis reduces environmental impact
SIM² KU Leuven – SOLVOMET researchers have studied the metathesis or anion-exchange of ionic liquids in a lab-scale, counter-current mixer-settler set-up. The work was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Recovery of copper, zinc and lead from photovoltaic panel residues
Within the EU ETN SULTAN and PEACOC projects, SOLVOMET/SIM2 KU Leuven and VITO researchers developed a process to recover copper, zinc and lead from chloride leachates of PV residues. The work was published in RSC Advances.
Enhancing metal separation by non-aqueous solvent extraction: a critical review
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have published a critical review paper in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research on the different systems and mechanisms of non-aqueous solvent extraction, providing a framework for future processes.
Solvometallurgical process for the recovery of tungsten from scheelite
SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers developed a conceptual flowsheet for the non-aqueous recovery of tungsten from low-grade scheelite sources. The work was published in the journal Industrial and Chemical Engineering Research.
Deep learning a grasping method with a vacuum gripper for the recycling of WEEE
The lifecycle engineering research group (LCE/SIM² KU Leuven) has developed a grasping method that allows to pick unknown-randomly oriented WEEE objects with a vacuum gripper. The work was published in J. Intell. Robot. Syst.
Turning mining waste into a ceramic resource: Plombières tailings case
Within the EU H2020 ETN SULTAN project, Wienerberger, VITO & SIM2 KU Leuven researchers succeeded in blending up to 20 wt% of mining waste into ceramics. The work was published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
Closing the loop in ion flotation using solvometallurgy
SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven developed a solvometallurgical process to regenerate and reuse the anionic collector SDS and to strip copper from foam phases produced after the ion flotation of Cu-Zn dilute ammoniacal leachates.
Forecasting global aluminium flows for improved sorting and recycling
The lifecycle engineering research group (LCE/SIM² KU Leuven) has developed a method that allows to add alloy-level resolution to the International Aluminium Institute’s Global Flow Model, supporting improved sorting & recycling.
Understanding the electrodeposition behaviour of gallium
SIM² KU Leuven researchers unraveled the electrodeposition behaviour of Ga in a non-aqueous electrolyte. The authors were given the opportunity to design the front cover of the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP).
Recovery of REEs from spent fluorescent lamps using methanesulfonic acid (MSA)
SIM²/SOLVOMET developed a new solvometallurgical process, using methanesulfonic acid (MSA), for the selective recovery of REEs from spent fluorescent lamps. The work was published in Industrial Engineering and Chemistry Research.
Why does only ferric chloride facilitate efficient lithium extraction with TBP?
In a new paper in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., SIM² KU Leuven – SOLVOMET researchers have revealed the mechanism why FeCl3 facillitates the most efficient extraction of lithium with tri-n-butyl phosphate from magnesium-rich brine.
Closed-loop process for Co & REE recovery from NdFeB magnets
SIM² KU Leuven – SOLVOMET researchers developed a new closed-loop metal recovery process for NdFeB-based permanent magnets. The work was published in the journal Separation and Purification technology.
