Sustainable processing of Europe's low-grade sulphidic and lateritic nickel/cobalt ores and tailings into battery-grade metals

Informations projet

ENICON

N° de convention de subvention: 101058124

DOI

10.3030/101058124

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 8 Juin 2022

Date de début 1 Juin 2022

Date de fin 31 Mai 2026

Financé au titre de

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Coût total

€ 6 019 237,50

Contribution de l’UE

€ 6 019 237,00

Coordonné par

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Belgium

CORDIS fournit des liens vers les livrables publics et les publications des projets HORIZON.

Les liens vers les livrables et les publications des projets du 7e PC, ainsi que les liens vers certains types de résultats spécifiques tels que les jeux de données et les logiciels, sont récupérés dynamiquement sur OpenAIRE .

Livrables

Documents, reports (4)

Technical report on success of direct simultaneous anodic Co-oxide and cathodic Ni recovery in HCl route

Technical report on success of direct simultaneous anodic Co-oxide and cathodic Ni recovery in HCl route, determining the decision to select the processing strategy (T3.1.1 vs. T3.2.2) for further Co recovery validation (cf. milestone: Decision to continue with direct anodic Co recovery (T3.1.1) or focus 100% on alternative, direct recovery Co-oxide product on anode from purified Co solution (T3.1.2).

Report on characterisation, surface chemistry, metal deportment/partitioning & mass balance for sulphides and laterites

Report on characterisation, surface chemistry, metal deportment/partitioning & mass balance for sulphides and laterites. This is in line with Tasks 1.1 and 1.2.

Technical report on the success of the various unit processes in the HCl-route for the 5 distinct ENICON input materials

Technical report on the success of the various unit processes in the HCl-route for the 5 distinct ENICON input materials. This provides a basis for the decision to select the 3 most appropriate streams for further process integration and validation (cf. milestone: Selection of 3 most appropriate (cf. TEA) ENICON input streams for further processintegration & validation in T2.3.5 (candidates: FeNi product, Ni laterites, Ni/Co-sulphideconcentrate, MHP/MSP from pyrite tailings, carbonated Ni-silicate tailings))

Report on identified projects for clustering activities

Report on identified projects for clustering activities. TUC will identify all relevant & related EU projects in both Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020. Project coordinators are contacted by TUC.

Publications

Peer reviewed articles (15)

Electrochemical cobalt oxidation in chloride media

Auteurs: Iryna Makarava, Jere Vänskä, Agnieszka Kramek, Jacek Ryl, Benjamin P. Wilson, Kirsi Yliniemi, Mari Lundström
Publié dans: Minerals Engineering, Numéro 211, 2024, ISSN 0892-6875
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.MINENG.2024.108679

Molecular thermodynamic model for solvent extraction of mineral acids by tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP)

Auteurs: Rayco Lommelen, Koen Binnemans
Publié dans: Separation and Purification Technology, Numéro 313, 2024, ISSN 1383-5866
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2023.123475

Contribution of alkali activation towards zero-waste management, low-carbon cities and sustainable development

Auteurs: Kostas Komnitsas
Publié dans: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Numéro 1558, 2025, ISSN 1755-1307
Éditeur: IOP Publishing
DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1558/1/012043

High-temperature slag engineering in pursuit of effective mineral carbonation of pyroxene-rich ferronickel slag

Auteurs: Arne Peys, Natalia Pires Martins, Fernando Prado Araujo, Konstantinos Komnitsas, Peter Nielsen
Publié dans: Journal of CO2 Utilization, Numéro 95, 2025, ISSN 2212-9820
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.JCOU.2025.103077

Cradle to gate life-cycle assessment of battery grade nickel sulphate production through high-pressure acid leaching

Auteurs: Georgios Bartzas, Konstantinos Komnitsas
Publié dans: Science of The Total Environment, Numéro 952, 2024, ISSN 0048-9697
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2024.175902

Mineralogical controls on Ni and Co recovery during HCl leaching of laterites

Auteurs: F. Araujo , N. Magalhães, E. Vassilieva, G. Rollinson, J. Andersen, R. Crane, S. Tampouris, H. Hughes, P. Muchez
Publié dans: International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials, Numéro 33,9, ISSN 1674-4799
Éditeur: University of Science and Technology Beijing
DOI: 10.48804/UR0JVP

Predictive thermodynamic model for solvent extraction of Iron(III) by tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) from chloride media

Auteurs: Rayco Lommelen, Brecht Dewulf, Jakob Bussé, Koen Binnemans
Publié dans: Separation and Purification Technology, Numéro 348, 2024, ISSN 1383-5866
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2024.127708

Akermanitic clinker unlocks the potential of Mg-silicates for carbonation cured construction materials

Auteurs: Peys, Arne; Martins, Natalia Pires; Prado Araujo, Fernando; Nielsen, Peter
Publié dans: Frontiers in Materials, 2025, ISSN 2296-8016
Éditeur: Frontiers Media S.A.
DOI: 10.3389/FMATS.2025.1570367

Recovery of nickel and cobalt from ferronickel alloy by hydrochloric acid leaching and continuous counter-current solvent extraction

Auteurs: Seyedeh Maryam Sadeghi, Clara Vermoere, Stylianos Tampouris, Koen Binnemans, Brecht Dewulf
Publié dans: Separation and Purification Technology, Numéro 397, 2026, ISSN 1383-5866
Éditeur: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2026.138092

Nickel, Cobalt, and Copper Recovery from Nickel Smelting Slag Using Biochar as Reductant

Auteurs: Fabiola Lasar, Lassi Klemettinen, Hugh O’Brien, Benjamin P. Wilson, Daniel Lindberg
Publié dans: Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, 2026, ISSN 2199-3823
Éditeur: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
DOI: 10.1007/S40831-026-01690-X

Main factors that influence alkali activation of slag produced after pyrometallurgical treatment of laterites

Auteurs: Kostas Komnitsas, Vasiliki Karmali, Dimitra Vathi, Georgios Bartzas
Publié dans: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Numéro 1558, 2025, ISSN 1755-1307
Éditeur: IOP Publishing
DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1558/1/012042

Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Low–grade Limonitic Laterite

Auteurs: K. Komnitsas, V. Karmali, G. Bartzas, A. Kritikaki
Publié dans: Circular Economy and Sustainability, Numéro 6, 2026, ISSN 2730-597X
Éditeur: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
DOI: 10.1007/S43615-026-00886-3

Energy transition metals: Future demand and low carbon processing technologies

Auteurs: Komnitsas, K., Lazos, I., and Eerola, T.
Publié dans: Materials Proceedings, 2023, Numéro 15, 56, ISSN 2673-4605
Éditeur: MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/MATERPROC2023015056

Factors affecting the properties of slag-based alkali activated materials

Auteurs: Komnitsas, K., Karmali,V., Vathi, D., Kaklamanos, E
Publié dans: Materials Proceedings, 2023, Numéro 15, 19, ISSN 2673-4605
Éditeur: MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/MATERPROC2023015019

Synthesis and Morphology of Slag-based Alkali-Activated Materials

Auteurs: Konstantinos Komnitsas; Arne Peys; Stylianos Tampouris; Vasiliki Karmali; Georgios Bartzas; Dimitra Vathi; Anna Kritikaki
Publié dans: Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 2024, ISSN 2524-3462
Éditeur: Springer Nature
DOI: 10.1007/S42461-024-01161-5

Conference proceedings (23)

Objecticves and ambition towards climate neutrality

Auteurs: Doitsidis, L., Kritikaki, A., Komnitsas, K.
Publié dans: 2023
Éditeur: EIS

Socio-environmental aspects related to the implementation of Strategic Projects; potential impacts on Europe's Green and Digital Transitions

Auteurs: Komnitsas, K.
Publié dans: 2025 OECD Conference of Mining Regions and Cities, 16-18 June 2025, Rovaniemi, Finland
Éditeur: OECD

Geochemical and environmental assessment of mining-metallurgical wastes and alkali activated materials

Auteurs: K. Komnitsas, V. Karmali, D. Vathi
Éditeur: 9th International Slag Valorization Symposium from residues to resources and resilience

Is alkali activation of mixtures of marl and slag or metakaolin a feasible option for the stabilization of clayey soils?

Auteurs: Komnitsas, K., Vathi D., Steiakakis, E., Kritikaki, A.
Publié dans: 38th International Conference on Geochemistry and Health (SEGH 2023), 2-6 July 2023, Athens, GR
Éditeur: SEGH 2023

Characterization of porous ceramics produced from silicate tailings

Auteurs: K. Komnitsas, C. Gourdomichali, A. Kritikaki
Éditeur: th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management

An Alternative Cobalt and Nickel Electrochemical Recovery Method for Improved Process Sustainability

Auteurs: Iryna Makarava, Mika Sahlman, Thi Le, Benjamin P. Wilson, Kirsi Yliniemi, Mari Lundström
Publié dans: Proceedings of the 63rd Conference of Metallurgists, COM 2024, 2024
Éditeur: Springer Nature Switzerland
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-67398-6_106

Towards a greener nickel industry: A life cycle assessment case study

Auteurs: K. Komnitsas, G. Bartzas
Éditeur: IPMS2023

ENICON Matrix Valorisation: Towards near-zero waste in Europe's Ni/Co supply chain

Auteurs: Arne Peys, Lieven Machiels, Konstantinos Komnitsas
Éditeur: 8th International Slag Valorisation Symposium

Forensic geometallurgy of Ni-Co laterites: Sustainable processing of Europe's low-grade ores and tailings into battery-grade metals

Auteurs: Prado Araujo, Fernando; Muchez, Philippe; Andersen, Jens; Magalhães, Nívea; Crane, Richard; Hughes, Hannah
Publié dans: 2023

Properties of Alkali Activated Materials produced from Metallurgical Slag and other Additives,

Auteurs: Komnitsas, K., Karmali, V., Petrakis, E., Kritikaki, A., and O. Pantelaki, O.
Publié dans: 2024
Éditeur: CEMEPE

Upgrading of ferronickel to battery-grade nickel

Auteurs: B. Dewulf
Éditeur: IPMS2025

The effect of biochar addition on the properties of alkali-activated materials produced from silicate tailings

Auteurs: V. Karmali, D. Vathi, D, A. Kritikaki, K. Komnitsas
Éditeur: SUSTENG2024

Properties of Alkali Activated Materials produced from Metallurgical Slag and other Additives

Auteurs: K. Komnitsas, V. Karmali, E. Petrakis, A. Kritikaki, A. Pantelaki
Éditeur: 10th International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE) & SECOTOX Conference

Akermanitic carbonatable clinkers: overview of technical and environmental performance.

Auteurs: N. Pires Martins, G. Bartzas, K. Komnitsas, A. Peys
Éditeur: 1st International Conference on Mg-based cements

A preliminary life cycle assessment of a new HCl-based processing route for battery grade Ni/Co production

Auteurs: Bartzas, G., Komnitsas, K
Éditeur: MCV24

The importance of techno-economic assessment (TEA) in mining, metallurgical and waste valorisation projects

Auteurs: Ipsakis, D., Konsolakis, M., Granata, G., Komnitsas, K
Publié dans: SDIMI, Torino, Italy, July 9-11, 2024
Éditeur: SDIMI 2024

Sustainable processing of European nickel and cobalt ores and tailings into battery-grade metals

Auteurs: B. Dewulf
Éditeur: 1st International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium

Nickel slag cleaning using hydrogen as reductant.

Auteurs: Lasar, F., Andersson, A., Klemettinen, L., O’Brien, H., & Lindberg, D.
Publié dans: Proceedings of EMC 2025, Numéro 1, 515-529
Éditeur: EMC 2025

Mineralogical controls on the Ni and Co recovery from HCl leaching of laterites

Auteurs: Araujo F.P., Virrey M.D., Vassilieva E., Magalhães N., Rollinson G., Sadeghi S., Dewulf B., Tampouris S., Binnemans K., Andersen J., Hughes H., Muchez P.
Éditeur: Process Mineralogy 24

Engineering the phase composition of akermanitic carbonatable clinkers to achieve high CO2 reactivity

Auteurs: Peys, Arne; Pires Martins, Natalia
Publié dans: 2025
Éditeur: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/ZENODO.15304297

Mineral carbonation of a ferronickel slag-based clinker

Auteurs: Pires Martins, Natalia; Peys, Arne
Publié dans: 2025
Éditeur: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/ZENODO.15304122

Biochar as an Alternative Reductant in Nickel Slag Cleaning: First Results from Large Laboratory-Scale Experiments

Auteurs: Fabiola Lasar, Anton Andersson, Lassi Klemettinen, Hugh O’Brien, Daniel Lindberg
Publié dans: Ni‐Co 2025, 6th International Symposium on Nickel and Cobalt, 2025
Éditeur: Springer Nature Switzerland
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-00167-2_57

Ni/Co recovery from ferronickel (FeNi) ores using an HCl-based route

Auteurs: Sadeghi, S.M.
Éditeur: 1st International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium

Thesis and dissertations (2)

Anodic cobalt oxide recovery for batterygrade precursors from multi-metal solutions

Auteurs: Elisa Kemppainen
Éditeur: Aalto University

Anodic Cobalt Recovery from Multi-metal Solutions: Assessment and Feasibility

Auteurs: Mikko Riikonen
Éditeur: Aalto University