News

SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have enhanced the separation of neodymium and dysprosium by replacing the aqueous phase in their solvent extraction process largely by a green solvent. The work was published in ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng.

“The curse of 'white oil': electric vehicles' dirty secret” is the attention-grabbing headline of an in-depth article on lithium mining published in The Guardian (Dec’ 8, 2020). Peter Tom Jones (SIM², KU Leuven) reacts in this piece.

SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a process to deposit and strip magnesium metal from molten mixtures of solvate ionic liquids (SILs) and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) at 80 °C for use in rechargeable Mg batteries.

A joint team of SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET & ArcelorMittal researchers have just published a critical review paper on the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from steel industry by-products in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.

SOLVOMET/SIM² KU Leuven researchers have developed a process to recycle NdFeB magnets in a water-free process at T > 100 °C to intensify the leaching and change the distribution ratio of REE/iron of typical aqueous SX processes.

A team of SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET & ArcelorMittal researchers has developed an ammoniacal leaching process to valorise Zn-rich BOF sludges from the steel industry. The work was published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.

Dr. Dominique Jacques’ is developing a metallogenic model to explain the structural emplacement of magmatic-hydrothermal quartz vein and pegmatites, which are enriched in critical metals such as W, Sn, Li, Nb and Ta. In this interview you get to know more about his work.

SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers have unravelled the effect of dissolved chloride salts on the structure of water and on the complex formation of metal ions with chlorides. The work was published in the journal Inorganic Chemistry.

SIM² KU Leuven/SOLVOMET researchers have developed a green process to extract gold from anode slimes, using the biobased diethyl carbonate (DEC) as extractant. The work was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Blog article by Early Stage Researcher Marianna Pateli (ETN SOCRATES) who recycled rare-earth elements (REEs) from spent fluorescent lamps using a solvometallurgical approach, using mild and green solvents.