Descripción del proyecto
Una solución ecológica para materias primas fundamentales
La dependencia de Europa de un puñado de terceros países para obtener materias primas fundamentales (MPF) como el níquel, el cobalto y el manganeso plantea importantes retos a su transición energética. Estos metales, esenciales para las baterías de iones de litio de níquel, manganeso y cobalto, suelen obtenerse con grandes costes medioambientales, sanitarios y de seguridad. El Reglamento de Materias Primas Fundamentales de la Unión Europea pretende impulsar el refinado nacional, con el objetivo de que más del 40 % se procese en Europa. En este sentido, el proyecto CICERO es pionero en un modelo de refinado sostenible y circular para Ni, Co y Mn que usa ácido metanosulfónico (una alternativa ecológica al ácido sulfúrico que cumple el Reglamento REACH). Mediante la recuperación de MPF de fuentes secundarias nacionales y la innovación de nuevos procesos metalúrgicos, el equipo de CICERO establece un transformador
Objetivo
On 16 March 2023 the EC published the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) proposal that sets “benchmarks along the strategic raw materials value chain and for the diversification of the EU supplies”. By targeting the domestic refining of three “strategic” battery-related CRMs, i.e. Ni, Co and Mn, the CICERO project addresses the second CRMA benchmark: i.e. > 40% domestic processing/refining. To tackle the twin problems of (1) Europe’s dependence on a few third countries (i.e. DRC, Indonesia, China) for the supply of Ni, Co and Mn for our NMC Li-ion battery production, and (2) the fact that these metals are currently produced at a huge cost in terms of environment, health and safety, CICERO puts in place a sustainable, cost-effective refining model for Ni, Co and Mn, and the downstream conversion into “made-in-Europe” NMC cathodes. The CICERO project is the first ever to develop a circular hydrometallurgical Ni, Co & Mn processing/refining scheme that uses methanesulphonic acid (MSA) – a commercial, green, REACH-compliant & affordable acid – rather than H2SO4. CICERO recovers, refines and converts Ni, Co and Mn from domestically available secondary raw materials: (a) post-mining raw materials (sulphide & laterite tailings) and (b) Ni/Co/Mn-bearing intermediates incl. MSP, FeNi, Ni-matte and Mn-anode sludge. To achieve this, CICERO develops a suite of novel metallurgical unit processes for advanced MSA leaching and solution purification, the conversion to battery-grade MSA salts, and the synthesis of NMC cathodes in MSA media, with sound reagent regeneration & iron recovery in line with the Twelve Principles of Circular Hydrometallurgy. This research is supported by advanced thermodynamic & kinetic modelling for solid-liquid & liquid-liquid equilibria relevant for Ni/Co/Mn processing/refining in MSA media. CICERO introduces a new paradigm for metallurgical processing/refining and increases society’s acceptance of, and trust in, sustainable CRM production in Europe.
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-01
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinador
3000 Leuven
Bélgica