FREECOVER · Eco-Friendly Hydrometallurgy for Rare Earths Recycling

Rare Earths Elements (REEs) are crucial for the EU's strategic sectors, in particular renewable energy and electric mobility. However, they are classified Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) with a high supply risk. FREECOVER aims to develop a sustainable hydrometallurgical process for recycling REEs from metallic waste based on eco-friendly materials as key-elements of the separation processes. The project objective is strengthening the supply chain, protect environment and generate new value through its circular economy approach. FREECOVER aims to show the effectiveness of materials derived from natural resources in developing a sustainable REEs recovery process. The demonstration will focus on the recycling of REEs from permanent magnets, which constitute one of the large scale applications of REEs.The proposed process starts from treating the waste magnet by using natural acids, then REEs are separated from the resulting complex liquid phase by liquid/liquid extraction using novel eco-friendly ionic liquids supported on polymeric membranes, based on natural polymers and composites. Then, residual metals will be removed using natural, low-cost, minerals as adsorbents. The resulting aqueous phase will be recycled within the process to obtain a closed water cycle. Finally, the project will show how the metal-loaded adsorbent will be valorized as catalyst in wastewater treatment processes.The project brings together 6 academic partners and 3 companies from EU/AC and one AP from Cuba. The staff involved will perform international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary secondments to develop high quality R&I activity, transfer knowledge and benefit of new skills and experience. A detained dissemination and communication activity will be directed to maximize the impact of the project. The EU will benefit from FREECOVER by acquiring a technologies capable to ensure the supply of REEs, and thus increase the competitiveness in green technologies.