Project description
Recovering refractory metals from waste streams
Refractory metals like tungsten, niobium and tantalum have special characteristics that make them more durable and resistant than other standard metals. Features include a high melting point, high resistance to corrosion, and good heat and electricity conduction. Despite being classified as critical raw materials by the EC, fractions of these indispensable metals end up in mining waste streams and process scrap. The EU-funded TARANTULA project aims to recover refractory metals from low-grade waste by developing a suite of cost-effective, scalable and eco-friendly metallurgical processes. Following systematic research activities at a laboratory scale, the new technologies will be brought to technology readiness level 5, and based on performance will be validated at prototype level by TECNALIA. TARANTULA will blueprint tailored Communication, Dissemination and Civil Society Engagement strategies with respect to obtaining and maintaining the 'Social License to Operate' for future heavy-duty metallurgical processing.
Objective
The extraordinary properties of refractory metals, the unlikeliness of their future substitution and their use in booming industries will sustain a high EU demand for tungsten (W), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta). Despite all three being classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRM) by the European Commission (EC), fractions of these indispensable metals are dissipated as by-products in mining waste streams as well as process scrap. To stimulate their recovery from such complex, low-grade resources, TARANTULA will develop a suite of cost-effective, scalable and eco-friendly – bio-, hydro-, iono-, solvo-, pyro- and electro-metallurgical – processes with high selectivity and recovery rates. These novel technologies, each representing an alternative for one or more process steps of state-of-the-art (SoA) processing lines, will form new routes towards market-ready metals, metal oxides and metal carbides. Flexibility will be the cornerstone of the overall process flowsheet to enable recovery of all three elements (W, Nb, Ta), thereby minimising the CAPEX required for future processing installations. Following systematic research and innovation activities at lab scale, the envisioned technologies will be brought to TRL3-5 and, based on performance, validated at prototype level by experienced industrial partners. In parallel, future by-product recovery will be supported by carrying out a comprehensive identification and assessment of existing un/underexploited secondary sources of W, Nb and Ta. The generated information – in compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations - will feed into the Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) which will boost the impact of the project far beyond the current consortium. Finally, TARANTULA will blueprint tailored Communication, Dissemination and Civil Society Engagement strategies with respect to obtaining and maintaining the “Social License to Operate” for future heavy-duty metallurgical processing.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processing
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil society
- social scienceslaw
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
20009 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA)
Spain
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Participants (17)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
48170 ZAMUDIO
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3000 Leuven
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7034 Trondheim
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2400 Mol
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4000 Liege
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41300 LA RINCONADA (SEVILLA)
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
412 96 GOTEBORG
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1380 Lasne
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37255 Barruecopardo
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
28004 Madrid
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
37188 Carbajosa De La Sagrada
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
76189 Karlsruhe
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48970 Basauri
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09600 Dun
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
41092 Sevilla
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1930 Zaventem
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24412 Cubillos Del Sil Leon
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