Project description
Recycling REEs from metallic waste
Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial for the EU’s strategic sectors, particularly renewable energy and electric mobility. However, they are classified as critical raw materials (CRMs) with a high risk of supply shortages. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FREECOVER project aims to develop a sustainable process for recycling REEs from metallic waste. The project will demonstrate the effectiveness of materials derived from natural resources in creating a sustainable REE recovery process, with a focus on recycling REEs from permanent magnets. FREECOVER will also showcase the use of eco-friendly ionic liquids, as well as natural adsorbents for separation processes. The EU will benefit from FREECOVER by acquiring technologies that ensure a stable supply of REEs.
Objective
Rare Earths Elements (REEs) are crucial for the EU's strategic sectors, in particular renewable energy and electric mobility. However, they are classified Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) with a high supply risk. FREECOVER aims to develop a sustainable hydrometallurgical process for recycling REEs from metallic waste based on eco-friendly materials as key-elements of the separation processes. The project objective is strengthening the supply chain, protect environment and generate new value through its circular economy approach.
FREECOVER aims to show the effectiveness of materials derived from natural resources in developing a sustainable REEs recovery process. The demonstration will focus on the recycling of REEs from permanent magnets, which constitute one of the large scale applications of REEs.
The proposed process starts from treating the waste magnet by using natural acids, then REEs are separated from the resulting complex liquid phase by liquid/liquid extraction using novel eco-friendly ionic liquids supported on polymeric membranes, based on natural polymers and composites. Then, residual metals will be removed using natural, low-cost, minerals as adsorbents. The resulting aqueous phase will be recycled within the process to obtain a closed water cycle. Finally, the project will show how the metal-loaded adsorbent will be valorized as catalyst in wastewater treatment processes.
The project brings together 6 academic partners and 3 companies from EU/AC and one AP from Cuba. The staff involved will perform international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary secondments to develop high quality R&I activity, transfer knowledge and benefit of new skills and experience. A detained dissemination and communication activity will be directed to maximize the impact of the project. The EU will benefit from FREECOVER by acquiring a technologies capable to ensure the supply of REEs, and thus increase the competitiveness in green technologies.
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
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- engineering and technology environmental engineering mining and mineral processing rare earths
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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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-TMA-MSCA-SE - HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff Exchanges
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01
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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.
33100 Udine
Italy
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.