Project description
New electro-driven methods for ion separation
Separating ions with similar properties, such as sodium and potassium, is challenging but has implications for water treatment, agriculture and resource recovery. The ERC-funded ION-TRACE project will explore new approaches to address this issue. By focusing on how ions behave during adsorption and desorption, ION-TRACE will use advanced electro-driven techniques, including battery deionisation and electrochemical ion pumping to achieve efficient separation. Key activities include optimising ion-selective materials and refining process configurations to enhance efficiency and stability under various conditions. The proposed research will boost ion separation technology, while also supporting reduced freshwater consumption and resource independence for Europe.
Objective
"Selective ion separation plays a crucial role in Selective ion separation plays an important role in water treatment, resource recovery, and agriculture. As the need for sustainable water use intensifies and global demand for strategic resources like lithium increases, developing efficient and selective ion separation technologies becomes essential. In particular, the selective separation of ions with similar properties, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), remains a significant challenge.
In the ION-TRACE project, I aim to overcome this challenge by developing innovative separation processes. My approach involves pioneering electro-driven processes, including Battery Deionization (BDI) combined with Concentration-Dependent Switching (CDS) and Electrochemical Ion Pumping (EIP). These processes take advantage of differences in ion adsorption and desorption dynamics to separate two similar ions.
The methodology of this project focuses on understanding ion transport mechanisms, which create specific time differences in ion adsorption and desorption, and identifying strategies to optimize these mechanisms to reach the operational ""sweet spot."" First, I will demonstrate that even a limited selectivity of robust materials can be sufficient to achieve highly efficient ion separation. Next, I will tune the process through the introduction and modification of ion-selective electrodes and membranes, modifications to material structure, and optimizations of process configurations. Synthesized materials will be studied in detail to assess their stability, selectivity, and transport properties under varying experimental conditions, including salinity, pH, presence of complex ion mixtures, and applied electrical field.
By achieving selective separation of similar ions from complex mixtures, ION-TRACE will represent a significant leap in this research field, and provide societal benefits, such as reduced freshwater consumption and enhanced resource independence for Europe.
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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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-2025-COG
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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.
50-370 Wroclaw
Poland
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.