Project description
Hydrophobic eutectic solvents for sustainable metallurgy
Sustainable metallurgy is environmentally sound and allows reclaiming metal value from end-of-life devices, thereby closing the resource loop. However, the separation of lanthanides (Ln) poses challenges due to their subtle property variations, which affect their recycling economics despite growing demand. In this context, the ERC-funded DESignSX project will use non-ionic hydrophobic eutectic solvents (DES) for Ln separation through solvent extraction (SX). The project endeavours to enhance Ln separation by augmenting steric factors that dictate the interactions between Ln and ligands, achieved by incorporating complexing agents as constituents of molecularly crowded DES. Employing a tandem experimental-computational approach, DESignSX will improve the process and overcome conventional SX challenges while enhancing separation selectivity.
Objective
DESignSX proposes the application of bio-inspired non-ionic hydrophobic eutectic solvents (DES) to the solvent extraction (SX) separation of lanthanides (Ln) based on the understanding of these complex mixtures that are defined by hydrogen-bonded supramolecular self-assembly. Sustainable metallurgy stands uniquely poised to reduce the environmental impact of existing processes whilst recovering the metal value in end-of-life devices, thereby closing the resource loop. Despite their growing demand and geopolitical criticality, Ln separation remains technologically challenging due to the small monotonic variation in their properties, negatively affecting the economics of their recycling. DESignX seeks to exacerbate the steric factors defining the interactions between Ln and ligands, dictating the ensuing complex geometries and mutual separation selectivity, through the inclusion of complexing agents as components of molecularly crowded DES. By carefully selecting the DES phase binary components, the energy penalty associated with the structuration of the apolar phase may be rationally adjusted to increase the selectivity between adjacent Ln versus the same extractant in conventional SX. Given that the separation of adjacent Ln occurs over dozens of counter-current extraction stages, even seemingly small increases in the separation factors yield measurable environmental and economic gains. DESignSX rely on a tandem experimental-computational approach spanning multiple time and size scales, from a molecular description of pair-wise interactions to laboratory-scale process optimisation. DESignSX will overcome the traditional SX issues of complex flowsheets, third-phase formation, toxicity of the organic diluent through the inclusion of bio-derived components, and entrainment losses, whilst improving the selectivity of the separation. DESignSX outcomes are expected to be transferable to other critical SX separations.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics geometry
- engineering and technology materials engineering metallurgy
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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)
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal
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