Implementation period: 2025-05-01 - 2028-04-30
Type: International
Division: The Division of Applied Geochemistry and Environmental Engineering
Akronym: REECovery
The main objective of the project is to develop an efficient method for recovering REEs from solid waste, taking into account the economic aspects of the solution, as well as its social and environmental impact. The project will focus on studying solid waste from three countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, and Turkey) in terms of REE content, in order to develop a concept for the efficiency of REE recovery technologies. The partners will select the most promising waste material (from among fly ash, flotation tailings, end-of-life photovoltaic panels, and wind turbine blades) for REE recovery.
The planned activities will be carried out within three work packages (WPs), divided into tasks, each assigned to a responsible partner. In the first stage, the selected waste will be characterized with respect to the relationship between its mineralogical and chemical composition and the binding of REEs in the studied waste. This will enable the design of an appropriate chemical process for REE extraction from the remaining solid content under WP2. At least three extraction methods will be considered to assess the most efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly solution.
Furthermore, within the final WP3, a technological concept of the proposed solution will be developed. The proposed project brings together four research institutions and one small enterprise, enabling the creation of an interdisciplinary research team with diverse experience and skills, facilitating knowledge exchange. The results will be of interest to waste owners due to a novel development approach, as well as a potential pathway for companies possessing raw materials, including REEs, to expand their operations.
If the results are positive, the partner will consider pursuing another project to enable commercialization of the proposed solution. The REECovery project has been designed to align with the SDG goals. Current technologies are highly damaging to the environment and climate. The project will start at TRL 3 and end at TRL 6.
Consortium implementing the Project: Project implemented under the M-ERANET3/Call2024 programme
Project coordinator : Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences
Project partners :
Geminus Sp. z o.o.
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin
VSB-Technical University of Ostrava
Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency
Head and coordinator: PhD, DSc, Eng Magdalena Wdowin, contact: wdowin@min-pan.krakow.pl
