Imagine trying to get a few gold nuggets out of a mountain of gravel; that's what extracting nickel and cobalt from low-grade ore is like. Instead of using old, chemical-heavy methods that create a lot of waste, this project uses a smarter acid-based process and bacteria to pull the metals out. It's like upgrading from a clumsy old filter to a precision tool that leaves almost nothing behind.
Europe lacks a reliable supply of battery-grade nickel and cobalt, relying heavily on imports from a few concentrated regions. Current processing methods for low-grade ores are chemically intensive and produce excessive waste.
A new HCl-based extraction route for sulphide concentrates and laterites, a bioleaching process for pyrite tailings, and a 'forensic geometallurgy' protocol to reduce processing losses.
If you are a battery producer dealing with a supply chain concentrated in the DRC, Indonesia, and China — this project developed a refining capacity for European ores that secures a reliable, affordable, and sustainable supply of battery-grade Ni/Co.
If you are a mining company dealing with Ni/Co-bearing pyrite and silicate tailings — this project developed a bioleaching and HCl-based route that turns waste streams into valuable battery metals.
If you are a waste processor dealing with high CO2 footprints and problematic waste streams — this project developed mineral-matrix valorisation processes to move toward near zero-waste processing.
Based on available project data, the project aims to make the supply of battery-grade Ni/Co more affordable by exploiting domestic European low-grade resources and reducing the need for expensive imports from concentrated global markets.
Based on available project data, the project has designed and operated bioleaching and precipitation processes, but the HCl leaching showed mixed results for sulphide concentrates, suggesting it is still in the testing and optimization phase.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not provided, but the project involves 4 industry partners who are benchmarking the techno-economic impacts of the new HCl-based route.
The project focuses on near zero-waste processing and reducing CO2 footprints by replacing old-school hydro-approaches that create problematic waste streams.
The project period runs from 2022-06-01 to 2026-05-31, indicating that final results and benchmarking will be available by mid-2026.
The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, featuring a 44% industry ratio with 4 industrial partners and 5 research-oriented entities (4 universities, 1 research organization). Spanning 6 countries (BE, EL, FI, NO, SE, UK), the group combines academic expertise in geometallurgy with the practical refining and mining capacity of European companies to ensure the results are benchmarked against real-world techno-economic impacts.
Contact the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven research office regarding the ENICON project.
Contact SciTransfer to connect with the ENICON consortium for licensing the HCl-route.
