Project description
Strengthening Europe's position with an improved supply chain for platinum group metals
The platinum group metals are six precious transition metals mined primarily in South Africa, Russia and North America. They are highly sought after in numerous commercial and industrial applications for their outstanding properties, including very high strength and durability, resistance to chemical attack and high catalytic activity. While automobile catalytic converters account for the greatest demand, platinum group metals are used in everything from electronics and biomedicine to fuel cell technologies. The EU-funded CHemPGM project will take a closer look at these materials from a scientific point of view to understand the chemistry behind their utilisation in various applications, from mining to use and recycling, to foster a competitive edge for the EU via a secure and sustainable supply chain.
Objective
The CHemPGM project is a joint initiative of 7 expert organizations from the fields of chemistry, engineering, mining, metallurgy and materials science, designed to conduct fundamental research regarding the chemistry of platinum group metals (PGMs) and utilize the obtained knowledge to improve and secure the PGMs value chain. Specifically, the project aims i) to establish fundamental knowledge regarding the chemistry of the PGMs, their reactions and complexation with other metals and chemical compounds, and the corresponding reactivities during leaching, separation and recovery processes; ii) to gain a complete understanding of the mechanisms associated with the above-mentioned processes, during the utilization of secondary materials to extract PGMs and incorporate them into new materials and processes such as nanomaterials, catalysis and CO2 capture; iii) to create knowledge, provide expertise and educate the public. This will lead to the upgrading of existing processes and the development of new ones, aligned with sustainable principles, to ensure a circular operation model of the relevant industries. Through the involvement of universities, RTOs and SMEs, CHemPGM is backed by a well-rounded team, with multiyear expertise in the relevant fields, capable to deliver high-quality results regarding the project objectives. The consortium approaches the challenge from a multidiscipline aspect and proposes a balanced number of secondments alongside trainings, workshops, seminars and events that guarantee a cross-sectorial synergy among them. As a result, CHemPGM will broaden the expertise of the organizations, contribute to the advancement of the secondees and enhance the potential for innovation to its stakeholders and those inter-related with it. Overall, the methodology for carrying out the tasks involved, guarantees the smooth running of the project and the successful fulfillment of the objectives to contribute towards a more efficient and sustainable future.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Coordinator
11476 Athina
Greece
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.