The project BREAKit (Bringing Research Knowledge to Exploitation: A T‐Shape Itinerary Approach) proposes a training path to help researchers and other technical professionals to transform knowledge generated in R&D projects into innovations in the market. (https://breakitproject.eu/) (Teresa Sessa, Rho(Mi), 12.04.2019)
BREAKIT provides: an experiential learning itinerary to develop transversal skills, prepares you to be an innovator and improve your employability and online courses to develop market & innovation oriented skills for Raw Material researchers using as channel RoMA Learning Platform (https://romalearning.mondragon.edu/). Participation in this project is especially suitable for researchers, postgraduate and doctoral students, post‐docs on research and business fields linked to raw materials, and industrial candidates who are interested in developing their entrepreneurial competences.
A technical webinar will be developed on specific topics related to circular design on raw materials, processing, engineering materials, manufacturing perspective and closing the loop. In this scenario, a webinar was developed on “Metal Recovery: An Efficient Example of Integrated Leading Technologies for Cobalt Recovery” This RoMa Learning Webinar aims to show the importance of integrated leading technologies in the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), and suggests the CROCODILE project as a perfect and efficient example in cobalt recovery using combined processes and innovative technologies.
Each electrical car battery requires between 10 to 20 kg of cobalt. Cobalt is used in many applications that support the shift to a low-carbon economy. Therefore, the de-mand for cobalt is rapidly increasing; and so is its price! The price of cobalt has risen nearly 250% in 2017 and is expected to significantly increase in the coming years, driven by stricter emissions controls that push the global.
Currently, the EU imports about 65% of its cobalt (approx. 10,000 tons/year). Only 35% is produced from secondary sources, such as the recycling of spent batteries, super-alloys and hard metals; as result the European Commotion considers Co as Critical Raw Material.
The CROCODILE project integrates leading technologies for Cobalt recovery: different Co-bearing sources (like Lithium batteries, Electric Vehicle-batteries and cobalt catalysts) are processed into a high-quality cobalt concentrate by applying a unique combination of advanced mechanical, wet mechanical and pyro-metallurgical process. This project aims to drastically reduce the supply risk of cobalt for the European industries by increasing the efficiency of recovery processes for cobalt (and other relevant materials) optimizing and upscaling the bioleaching of cobalt with a 100 L bioreactor. In parallel, secondary waste streams rich in cobalt will be identified and pre-concentrated by using novel advanced technologies that are capable of real-time high-speed classification.
A webinar will be organised on April 30 at 11:00 CET (CEST, Brussels time) and has the following structure:
- 5’ Why cobalt?
- 35’ The CROCODILE project: its aims, activities and benefits
- 10’ questions and answers
All are invited to follow the webinar; more in particular, the following audience is targeted:
- PhD/master students in EIT labelled courses
- Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs in companies
- Industrial researchers/managers at SMEs
The general objective is to create T-shape profiles and to develop entrepreneurial skills in research/academic profiles so they can create value from their research. The specific objective is to showcase the CROCODILE project to help participants to:
- Understand the importance to recovery CRMs for EU Economy (study case on cobalt recovery)
- Understand the value of advanced technologies and integrate approaches in the CRMs recovery: CROCODILE Project represents a perfect example using processes with lower energy costs and environmental impacts and combining technologies in a compact commercial mobile system.
- Learn Innovative Pre-treatment and Chemical Treatments (as solvent ex-traction and electro-winning, etc.)