Project description
Circular hydrometallurgical process for sodium and ammonium sulfate waste
The EU aims for climate neutrality by 2050. This requires the electrification of sectors such as mobility and energy. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a crucial role in this transition. To boost strategic autonomy, the EU sets targets for domestic extraction (10 %), processing (40 %), and recycling (25 %) of battery materials. A significant challenge for companies is managing sulphate waste generated during lithium extraction and LIB recycling. The EU-funded ADONIS project aims to demonstrate a salt splitting process that transforms sodium sulfate into sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, and ammonium sulfate into ammonia and sulfuric acid through simple inorganic reactions at moderate temperatures. This circular hydrometallurgical process could resolve sodium and ammonium sulfate waste issues for EU companies.
Objective
The EU aims to achieve climate neutrality with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, necessitating the electrification of key sectors like mobility and energy. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for this transition. To enhance strategic autonomy amid global competition and an increasingly hostile geopolitical context, the EU targets more strategic autonomy along the entire mine-to battery supply chain. This implies minimum targets for domestic extraction (10%), processing (40%) and recycling (25%) of battery raw materials. Given the strict environmental limits EU companies need to respect, a significant challenge in this mine-to-battery(-recycling) supply chain is the generation of large sulphate waste streams. Sodium sulphate is produced during lithium extraction from spodumene ores, cobalt and nickel sulphate refining, precursor cathode active material (pCAM) production for nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, and LIB recycling. Similarly, lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery production generates ammonium sulphate waste. Addressing these waste streams economically is a major challenge for EU metallurgical and battery (recycling) companies. Prof. Koen Binnemans (KU Leuven, Belgium) proposed a solution, filing a European priority patent on July 18, 2024. The patent describes a “salt splitting process” that converts sodium sulphate into sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid, and ammonium sulphate into ammonia and sulphuric acid, using simple inorganic reactions at moderate temperatures. The invention is a prime example of a “circular hydrometallurgical process”. The ADONIS project aims to provide the proof-of-concept for this process, while demonstrating its environmental and techno-economic superiority. If successful, ADONIS could solve the sodium and ammonium sulphate waste problem for many EU companies, enhancing their ESG credentials and easing permit acquisition. Commercialising this technology would boost the EU’s envisaged strategic autonomy.
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
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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-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-POC
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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.