Cluster workshop: Efficient recovery processes of Precious Metals

  • EVENT
  • 09/05/2023
  • at 16:30
  • Parkhotel Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Cluster workshop: Efficient recovery processes of Precious Metals from European end-of-life resources with novel technologies

Europe has a large share of the global catalyst manufacturing market. Catalysts are used in many different applications from the automotive industry to reduce toxic gas emissions, to the chemical industry to enable faster, more effective and selective reactions. They usually contain metals linked to the catalytic activity such as precious metals: Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Au, Ag. Additionally, precious metals are found in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic panels (PV).

With significant economic value and high supply risk linked to their import from third countries under geo-political conflicts, PGMs are labelled as Critical Raw Materials by the European Commission (EC).  Indispensable to many industrial applications, Ag and Au have high economic value. With  potential to enhance the circularity and secure the supply of these minerals vital to many industrial applications, the EU is currently investing in increasing the recyclability of these precious metals.

During this this workshop session organised within the Going Green Care Innovation 2023, four EU-funded projects will present their approaches for recycling precious metals (PGMs, Au, Ag) from different streams using economically and environmentally friendly technological solutions.

Programme

Moderator: Nader AKIL (Operations Manager, PNO Innovation) – Welcome and Introduction (5 min)

1. PEACOC: “Pre-commercial pilot for the efficient recovery of Precious Metals from European end-of-life resources with novel low-cost technologies” (1h presentations- 10min Q&A)

Nader AKIL (PNO Innovation): “Objectives and concept of the PEACOC project”
Paul ANDRÉ (University of Liège): “Unlocking value in low-grade PCBAs”
Frantisek KUKURUGYA (Vito): “Microwave-assisted leaching of PGMs from EoL autocatalysts”
Luis F. LEÓN (Vito): “Gas-Diffusion Electrocrystallisation”
Maria IBAÑEZ (Tecnalia): “Selective recovery of PGMs from spent autocatalyst using deep eutectic solvents”

2. FIREFLY: “Flexible, predictive and renewable electricity powered electrochemical toolbox for a sustainable transition of the catalyst-based European chemical industry”

Savitha THAYUMANASUNDARAM (Vito) (15 min)

3. The PHEIDIAS and LYDIA EIT Raw Materials Upscaling projects: “Recovering Platinum Group Metals from Automotive Catalysts and Fuel Cells/Electrolysers using a Universal Hydrometallurgical Process”

Iakovos YAKOUMIS (CEO and Founder, MONOLITHOS Catalysts & Recycling Ltd.) (20 min)

Q&A (10 min)

The registration form is available on the Going Green Care Innovation website.