Ten good reasons to use solvometallurgy

Solvometallurgy is to be considered as an emerging branch of extractive metallurgy. In contrast with hydrometallurgy, solvometallurgy employs non-aqueous solutions to extract metals from ores, industrial process residues, production scrap and urban waste. In order to position this emerging branch Prof. Koen Binnemans (holder of ERC Advanced Grant SOLCRIMET – Solvometallurgy for critical metals) and Dr. Peter Tom Jones have authored a 31-page position paper to present the opportunities and challenges for this exciting development within the metallurgy domain. This  Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy paper is an open access paper. It can be downloaded here.

Ten good reasons to use solvometallurgy

The paper argues that solvometallurgy is complementary to pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. However, this new approach offers several advantages. In the paper an overview is provided of 10 good reasons to use solvometallurgy. Hence, solvometallurgy is in a position to help develop near-zero-waste metallurgical processes, and with levels of energy consumption that are much less than with high-temperature processes. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of this emerging branch of extractive metallurgy is still low (TRL = 3-4), which is a disadvantage for short-term implementation, but a great opportunity for research, development and innovation, in order to tackle the resource challenges of the future.

SOLVOMET_10_REASONS

Hydro/solvometallurgical unit operations

Hydro/solvometallurgical unit operations

Looking towards the future

SIM² KU Leuven will be actively developing this field the coming years, in both bilateral, national (e.g. SIM SBO SMART) and European projects such as ERC SOLCRIMET and in the MSCA-ETNs coordinated by KU Leuven. This development also incorporates new investments in terms of leaching and solvent extraction mini-pilot scale equipment. You will be able to follow the progress on the SIM² KU Leuven website and (newly to be launched) SOLVOMET website. To be continued!

Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results received funding from the European  Research  Council  (ERC)  under  the  European  Union’s  Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme: Grant Agreement 694078 — Solvometallurgy for critical metals (SOLCRIMET).

signature_1_96dpi

x

Check Also

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.