Multi-user Equipment approved in grant 2019/11866-5: equipment for chemical analysis by wavelength X-ray fluorescence

• Grant number: 21/08228-7
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa
• Grantee: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11866-5 - Development of innovative processes for the recovery of critical metals, AP.TEM
• EMU web page: Página do Equipamento Multiusuário não informada
• Type of equipment: Caracterização de Materiais - Espectroscopia - Emissão de raios-X (ICP, ICP-MS, LIBS)
• Manufacturer: Fabricante não informado
• Model: Modelo não informado

Abstract

Critical metals have peculiar characteristics, which turn them essential and valuable for countries that invest in innovation, due to the application of these products in technological products. Hence, it is necessary to obtain these elements in secondary sources with low grade, taking maximum advantage of resources, searching for a circular economy. An example of the relevant application of critical metals it is founded on emergent technologies, those considered "green", like wind and solar energy and electric car batteries. Modern technologies are requested to process critical metals in such a way that turns viable the extraction and separation of metals in founded concentrations and with impurities. In the present thematic project will be developed two extraction routes for critical metals in aqueous media from two fronts of actuation: critical metals production from waste electrical and electronic equipment, and the production from industrial secondary sources. The main focuses of this work will be the lighting emitting diodes (LED), electric vehicle batteries, Bayer tailings (red mud), zinc, vanadium and tin mining tailings, low-grade ores, the overburden of mines and industrial catalysts. The studies will be developed focusing aqueous media processing, composed from steps of comminution, leaching (acid or alkaline), purifying, separation (ion resins, solvent extraction or precipitation) and production of metals, alloys, and oxides. Variables will be studied in a bench scale, being possible to scale the process to laboratory pilot plant. Computational thermodynamics simulations will be executed using FactSage, HydraMedusa and HSC softwares. (AU)