Sustainable Hydrometallurgical Processing of Critical Raw Materials for Circular Value Chains

Researcher: Sadia Ilyas

Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), including metals used in batteries, catalysts, and renewable energy technologies, are essential for sustainable industrial and clean energy development. To ensure their responsible supply, innovative hydrometallurgical methods are being developed to efficiently recover and recycle these CRMs, creating circular value chains and reducing reliance on primary mining while promoting low-carbon, sustainable processes.

Within this project, we develop innovative hydrometallurgical strategies to efficiently recover CRMs from underutilized mine reserves and waste materials, focusing on strategic & critical elements vital to batteries, catalysts, and advanced materials for green energy transitions. By integrating circularity and replacement strategies, our work creates resilient circular value chains, reduces reliance on conventional mining, and supports low-carbon, sustainable materials cycles in line with the thematic research area of Circularity & Replacement.

Sustainability aspect

The advanced hydrometallurgical innovation targets to minimize energy use, emissions, and waste generation. By recovering CRMs from secondary and lean-grade sources, we promote maximum utilization of metal resources with greater yields and high-purity products. The project directly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 7, 12, and 13.