Project description
A circular approach to metal extraction and refining
Funded by the European Research Council, the CIRMET project aims to advance hydrometallurgy by proposing a circular approach. This new approach focuses on energy-efficient processes that minimise reagent use and eliminate waste. CIRMET seeks to transform traditional hydrometallurgical flowsheets for extracting and refining cobalt and nickel into a circular process that uses only green hydrogen, water and carbon dioxide. This process also continually regenerates the acid used in leaching, reduces the net consumption of acids and bases to near zero and aims for virtually zero solid and liquid waste discharge. By developing a new theoretical chemical thermodynamic framework and innovative unit operations for sustainable metal and sulfur recovery, CIRMET could significantly reduce the environmental impact of hydrometallurgical processes.
Objective
CIRMET will lead to a new approach to hydrometallurgy, called “circular hydrometallurgy”, with a focus on the design of energy-efficient flowsheets or unit processes that consume a minimum amount of reagents and produce virtually no waste. CIRMET has the ambitious goal to replace the traditional, linear hydrometallurgical flowsheets for extraction and refining of the “energy-transition” metals cobalt and nickel into a next-generation, circular flowsheet, which (1) consumes no chemicals other than (green) hydrogen, water and carbon dioxide (taking advantage of the unique chemical properties of carbon dioxide); (2) uses the acid for the leaching process as a “catalyst” that is continually regenerated rather than consumed; (3) reduces the net consumption of acids and bases to virtually zero through ingenious manipulations of chemical equilibria via solvent extraction; and (4) comprises a virtually zero discharge of solid and liquid waste streams. As such, CIRMET can drastically reduce the environmental footprint of hydrometallurgical processes. To enable such circular flowsheets, a new theoretical chemical thermodynamic framework for multiphase electrolyte equilibria involving two immiscible liquids and innovative unit operations for sustainable metal and sulphur recovery are developed. Hydrometallurgical processes are approached from a molecular level. Liquid-liquid equilibria are modelled by Gibbs-energy-minimisation (GEM) methods, rather than by solving law-of-mass action (LMA) equations. The proof of concept of circular flowsheets is demonstrated for metal recovery from real, complex (rather than synthetic), impurity-bearing input streams: nickel laterites, cobalt-nickel sulphide ores, mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), and mixed sulphide precipitate (MSP). Only by combining these three mutually supporting spheres of innovation – (1) the “thermodynamic framework”, (2) the “unit process level” and (3) the “general flowsheet” sphere – can CIRMET be successful.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.