Research projects
As a principle, the research activities are material- and process-related. Being an engineering discipline, the mineral processing subject is characterized by its reference to applications of industrial relevance. Therefore, the subject is driven by an applied research, making use of the results obtained from fundamental research. Our research is both experimental and theoretical.
Current projects
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Clean-Mineral/Climate friendly mineral supply chains in transition to the green economy
The aim of this project is to contribute to addressing global concern over how to enhance the resilience of supply for key energy minerals while upholding sustainable development goals. To achieve this aim, this research project focuses on the value chains of the raw materials used in lithium-ion ba...
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Enhancing the flotation separation of electrode active materials through the recycling of batteries
Efficient, clean separation of anode graphite from cathode active materials is a key bottleneck in closing the battery loop. It is well understood that froth flotation is the most efficient beneficiation technique for separating ultrafine graphite (anode material) from cathode materials. As an exper...
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Study of green collectors for apatite froth flotation
This project undertakes a fundamental study of apatite flotation using green collectors to develop low-impact beneficiation routes for rare earth element (REE)-bearing iron oxide–apatite (IOA) ores from LKAB, with LKAB covering the associated analytical costs. By explaining collector–mineral interfa...
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Green flotation (CAMM3)
As the essential mineral beneficiation technique, froth flotation relies on efficient and selective flotation reagents and hydrodynamic conditions adjusted to the mineral system. Since flotation reagents are mostly harmful or even toxic, flotation separation has partly occurred at the expense of env...
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Crystallization for Lithium Purification from Battery Leachate
This project investigates the application of selective antisolvent crystallization to recover lithium from sulfuric acid leachates of spent NMC-type batteries. By employing recyclable, bio-based antisolvents such as ethanol, the process aims to achieve high purity and selectivity while significantly...
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Fundamentals of breakage and fracture in comminution and its relation to ore properties
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Recycling
Batteries With the increasing use of mobile and cordless electronics, the disposal of spent batteries has also risen considerably. Batteries contain toxic metals such as Li, Co, Ni, Cd, Mn, Zn, and organic components (e.g. ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate). Thus, spent bat...