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FineFuture · Project

Recovering Valuable Minerals Too Small for Current Flotation Technology

manufacturingTestedTRL 5
finefuture-h2020.eu

Imagine panning for gold, but the gold flakes are so tiny they slip right through your sieve. That's the problem mining companies face with particles smaller than 20 micrometers — current flotation technology just can't grab them. FineFuture figured out how to make ultra-tiny bubbles that can actually latch onto these microscopic mineral particles and pull them out. This means mining operations can now recover critical raw materials they've been throwing away in their waste piles for decades.

By the numbers
20 µm
Fine particle size threshold addressed by the technology
5 m³/h
Largest demonstrated microdispersion generation throughput
17
Consortium partners across the project
11
Countries represented in the consortium
7
Industry partners involved in development
54
Total deliverables produced
The business problem

What needed solving

Mining and recycling companies lose significant amounts of critical raw materials because current flotation technology cannot recover particles smaller than 20 µm. These fine particles end up in tailings — essentially thrown away. As easily accessible ore deposits decline and demand for critical raw materials grows, the inability to process fine-grained material is becoming a serious supply chain bottleneck for European industry.

The solution

What was built

The project built working systems for generating nano- and micro-bubbles, including a water electrolysis method and air-in-water microdispersion generators tested at 12 L/h, 30 L/h, and 5 m³/h throughputs. Across 54 deliverables, the consortium produced fundamental science, engineering prototypes, and validated methods for capturing mineral particles below 20 µm that conventional flotation misses.

Audience

Who needs this

Mining companies processing fine-grained critical raw material oresE-waste and electronics recyclers recovering rare earth elementsTailings reprocessing companies extracting value from old mine wasteMineral processing equipment manufacturers looking for next-generation technologyRaw materials trading companies seeking new supply sources
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Mining and mineral processing
enterprise
Target: Mining companies processing fine-grained ores containing critical raw materials

If you are a mining company losing valuable minerals because your flotation circuits can't recover particles below 20 µm — this project developed micro- and nano-bubble generation technology at scales up to 5 m³/h that captures fine particles conventional methods miss. With 7 industry partners validating the approach across 11 countries, the technology targets exactly the fine fraction you're currently sending to tailings.

Recycling and secondary raw materials
mid-size
Target: E-waste and industrial waste recyclers recovering critical raw materials

If you are a recycler struggling to separate fine mineral particles from shredded electronics or industrial waste — this project built flotation methods specifically designed for particles below 20 µm. The nano-bubble technology demonstrated in deliverables at 12 L/h and 30 L/h flow rates could let you extract critical raw materials from waste streams that current equipment simply cannot process.

Tailings reprocessing
any
Target: Companies specializing in mine waste remediation and reprocessing

If you are a tailings reprocessing company looking to extract value from old mine waste — this project specifically targeted the reprocessing of old tailings deposits where fine critical raw materials were lost. The consortium of 17 partners developed bubble generation methods via water electrolysis that work at the micro- and nano-scale, opening up decades of accumulated waste as a potential resource.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost to implement in our processing plant?

The project data does not include specific cost figures for implementation. As an RIA (Research and Innovation Action), the focus was on developing and validating the technology rather than commercial pricing. Contact the coordinator at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf for licensing or implementation cost discussions.

Can this work at industrial scale or only in the lab?

The project demonstrated air-in-water microdispersion generation at three scales: 12 L/h, 30 L/h, and 5 m³/h. The 5 m³/h unit represents a significant step toward industrial throughput, though full-scale plant integration would require further engineering. The consortium included 7 industry partners to ensure practical applicability.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

As an EU-funded RIA project, IP ownership typically sits with the consortium partners who generated it. Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf coordinated the project and would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions. With 54 deliverables produced, there is substantial documented know-how available.

What particle sizes does this actually work for?

The project specifically targets particles below 20 µm in size — the range where conventional flotation technologies fail. This threshold is clearly defined in the project objectives as the key technical barrier the technology addresses.

Is this proven for specific minerals or just a general concept?

The project focuses on Critical Raw Materials (CRM) recovery, with applications validated across the consortium's 11 countries. Based on available project data, the technology applies to both primary ore deposits and reprocessing of old tailings containing CRM, though specific mineral test results would need to be requested from the consortium.

How does this fit with existing flotation equipment?

The core innovation is in bubble generation — producing nano- and micro-bubbles via water electrolysis that can attach to fine particles. Based on the deliverables, this could potentially be integrated as an add-on to existing flotation circuits rather than requiring full replacement, though specific integration details should be discussed with the technology developers.

What regulations or standards does this address?

The project aligns with EU raw materials policy and circular economy goals. By enabling recovery of Critical Raw Materials from both new deposits and old tailings, it directly supports EU strategic autonomy in raw materials supply — an increasingly regulated priority area.

Consortium

Who built it

The FineFuture consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, with 7 industry partners (41% of the 17-member team) alongside 6 universities and 3 research organizations spread across 11 countries. The coordination by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf — a major German research center with strong ties to mining and materials industries — adds credibility. The geographic spread across Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK covers major European mining regions. The relatively low SME count (just 1) suggests the technology is currently oriented toward larger industrial players, though the underlying methods could eventually serve smaller recycling operations.

How to reach the team

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf EV (Germany) — use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup to find the project lead's direct contact

Order a report on this consortiumSee HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM DRESDEN-ROSSENDORF EV profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the FineFuture team to discuss licensing or pilot testing their fine particle flotation technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right people.

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