Imagine cleaning up old mining waste to find the precious metals needed for electric car batteries. Instead of using harsh sulfuric acid that harms the environment, this process uses a greener, safer acid to extract these metals. It's like using a gentle but effective soap to recover valuable ingredients from a messy mixture, then turning them directly into battery parts right here in Europe.
Europe relies on a few third countries like China, DRC, and Indonesia for critical battery metals. Current production methods are environmentally damaging and pose significant health and safety risks.
A circular hydrometallurgical refining scheme using methanesulphonic acid (MSA). This includes bioleaching processes for tailings and unit processes for solution purification and NMC cathode synthesis.
If you are a cell producer dealing with dependence on imports from China or Indonesia — this project developed a refining model that creates made-in-Europe NMC cathodes. This allows you to secure a domestic supply of Ni, Co, and Mn. It helps meet the EU goal of > 40% domestic processing.
If you are a mining company dealing with sulphide and laterite tailings — this project developed bioleaching and MSA-leaching processes to recover metals. This turns waste piles into a source of revenue. It uses a REACH-compliant acid to ensure environmental safety.
If you are a refinery dealing with the high environmental cost of sulfuric acid — this project developed a circular scheme using methanesulphonic acid (MSA). This reduces the health and safety risks associated with traditional refining. It includes a system for reagent regeneration.
The project uses methanesulphonic acid (MSA), which is described as an affordable and commercial acid. Based on available project data, the goal is to create a cost-effective refining model compared to traditional methods.
The project is currently in the testing and development phase. Based on available project data, tailored leaching processes have been developed and upscaling is identified as the next step.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project involves 7 industrial partners who are developing these metallurgical unit processes.
The project directly addresses the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) benchmark of > 40% domestic processing and refining for strategic battery materials.
The project period runs from 2023-11-01 to 2027-10-31, suggesting that full validation and potential pilot results will emerge toward the end of 2027.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercial application, with 7 industrial partners representing 54% of the 13 total members. This strong industry presence, combined with 3 universities and 3 research centers across 8 European countries, suggests a high focus on practical implementation and market viability rather than purely academic research.
Contact the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium
Contact us to identify the specific industrial partners in the CICERO consortium for licensing inquiries.
