Project description
Sustainable lithium recovery to reduce environmental impact
Europe’s reliance on imported lithium and the environmental challenges of traditional extraction methods threaten its transition to climate neutrality. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HiLi project will develop an innovative approach to recover lithium hydroxide directly from lithium sulfate solutions. The proposed approach minimises waste, reduces processing steps and enhances efficiency, thereby offering a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to conventional techniques. It also eliminates the need for intermediate lithium carbonate production and helps ensure higher purity and better control over the final product. HiLi advances will support Europe’s strategic goals of reducing dependency on critical raw materials, offering a scalable solution that will benefit the battery industry.
Objective
The transition to a climate-neutral Europe relies on securing a continuous and sustainable supply of lithium, a key component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage systems. However, Europe's dependence on lithium imports, compounded by the environmentally harmful and complex extraction processes used globally, present major risks to the continent's energy and economic security. This proposal addresses the urgent need for a cost-effective, selective and sustainable method for high purity lithium hydroxide recovery for a advanced battery technology from hard-rock-ore-derived lithium sulfate (Li2SO₄) solutions.
Our innovative approach leverages antisolvent crystallization to efficiently and selectively recover lithium hydroxide while minimizing environmental impact. Unlike conventional methods, which are costly, and produce significant chemical waste, our process streamlines recovery, improving yield, purity, and control over crystal size, phase, and morphology. By directly crystallizing lithium hydroxide monohydrate and sodium sulfate decahydrate, this method reduces processing steps and eliminates the need for intermediate lithium carbonate production, providing a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
The proposal is timely and aligns with the Europe's strategic objective to strengthen its battery industry and reduce dependency on critical raw materials. As demand for lithium increases, our method offers a scalable solution that can be commercialized to benefit the entire EU battery ecosystem.
With extensive experience in crystallization of pharmaceuticals and critical metals, I am well-equipped to work on this project, ensuring that the innovative process not only meets technical and environmental benchmarks but also adds significant value to Europe's industrial landscape. Our project will enhance Europe's technological sovereignty, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to the sustainable growth of EV battery sector.
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 energy and fuels renewable energy
- social sciences social geography transport electric vehicles
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- engineering and technology environmental engineering mining and mineral processing
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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)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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-2024-PF-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.
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.