Work package 1: metal extraction. In work package 1, four ESRs develop novel metal extraction technology for industrial process residues. Specifically, biocompatible solvometallurgical (ESR1) and ionometallurgical (using deep eutectic solvents, DESs) leaching methods (ESR2) are developed for the recovery of critical and economically important metals from low-grade industrial-process residues (tailings, Fe-rich sludges, slags and ashes); A plasma plasma-driven process is studied for metal recovery from slags (ESR3); a hydrometallurgical process, based on chloride leaching, is developed for metal recovery from complex impure process solutions (ESR4). For each metal extraction technology, a flowsheet has been developed linking the technology with metal recovery technologies (WP2) and mineral valorisation technologies (WP3) to be able to deliver near-zero-waste approaches for the in scope residues.
Work package 2: metal Recovery. Work package 2 treats the recovery of metals from leaching solutions. Six ESRs work in this work package. Specifically the following topics are studied: electrowinning of metals from DESs (ESR5); electrowinning of metals from complex impure chloride solutions (ESR6); non-aqueous solvent-extraction processes in milliflow reactors (project discontinued - ESR7); synthesis of extractants and ionic-liquid diluents from renewable chemicals (ESR8); miscibility of organic solvents, for the prediction of suitable solvent pairs for non-aqueous solvent extraction (studied using computational methods, ESR9); in-silico design of selective extractants for metal ions (ESR10).
Work Package 3: Residual matrix valorisation. Work package 3 treats residual mineral matrix valorisation after metal extraction. Three processes are being studied, being synthesis of cement (ESR11), inorganic polymers (ESR12) and as catalysts (ESR13). The aim is to valorise the residual mineral matrices (after metal extraction) from industrial-process residues (tailings, sludges, slags and ashes) as supplementary cementitious materials with calcium aluminate binders (ESR11), and/or iron-rich inorganic polymers (ESR12), and/or heterogeneous catalysts (ESR13).
Work package 4: Advanced characterization, mapping and integrated assessment of flowsheets. Work package 4 studies the advanced characterization of complex industrial residues (identification and distribution of the phases containing critical metals)(ESR14) and develops an integrated assessment of the flow sheets in the project (ESR15). The assessment involves systems-analysis methods for assessing key economic, environmental, technical, market and policy conditions and measures for the realisation of critical-metal recovery and valorisation flow sheets. While individual processes of the ESRs are being assessed, 3 flowsheets from the project were selected for performing an assessment on a flowsheet level.
The SOCRATES project website (
https://etn-socrates.eu/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) is the main hub for communication of project results and will remain operational for 5 years after the end of the project, after which it will be transferred to the SIM2 KU Leuven website (
https://kuleuven.sim2.be/(si apre in una nuova finestra)). Among others, the following items are available on the website: Summaries of work package results, extended abstract of the PhDs, contact data of ESRs and consortium members, publications, newsletters, policy briefs, blogposts, conference proceedings and project video’s. Exploitation of SOCRATES composes the (1) the elaboration of dedicated (bilateral, national and EU) follow-up projects targeting higher Technology Readiness Levels, with examples being the Horizon2020 Innovation action project NEMO and (2) direct implementation of technology by industrial partners of the consortium.
