Functionalized materials; selective extraction; critical raw materials; metal recovery; complex aqueous matrices; secondary raw materials; polymeric membranes; circular economy.
Topic 2 – Targeting secondary sources to enhance access to raw materials
Selective Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Secondary Liquid Streams Using Functionalized Materials
The research group offers expertise in functionalized materials for the selective extraction and recovery of critical and valuable metals from complex aqueous matrices. The group develops membranes, porous polymeric filters and sorbents incorporating selective extractants.
We have experience in the recovery of palladium and platinum from leachates of spent automotive catalysts and in the extraction and recovery of metals such as cobalt and yttrium from acid mine waters and mining-related effluents.
Our capabilities include material design and characterisation, evaluation of extraction efficiency and selectivity, metal recovery and elution, regeneration and reuse, continuous-flow separation and validation with real industrial, mining and recycling-derived samples.
The University of Girona is a public university in Catalonia, Spain, with recognised research strengths in water science, environmental chemistry, materials, sustainability and circular economy.
The organisation provides advanced facilities for material preparation and characterisation. The University of Girona has extensive experience in national and international collaborative research projects, researcher training, dissemination and knowledge transfer.
