Industry: Manufacturing Region: Germany Transaction price: US$ 1 million Transaction method: equity investment
Project introduction:
Scientists from Kloster University of Technology in Germany have developed a sustainable compound for efficient flotation purification process. This technology includes switchable materials for selective and efficient flotation purification process, which is specially used for electronic product recovery and mineral processing.
Industry problem
Technical products used in daily life contain valuable elements, such as lithium, gold or so-called key raw materials, which are not infinitely available or difficult to obtain. The global demand for electronic products is increasing, which also leads to an increasing number of e-waste due to the expiration of product service life. Electronic products such as mobile phones may contain 50-60 different elements. In the worst case, these elements will be thrown away or discarded at the end of their service life. Therefore, recycling technology is very attractive in the production of refurbished and recycled electronic products. Recovery technology may involve flotation process, which is characterized by separating elements or mixtures of elements from unwanted materials. Flotation is based on the surface hydrophobicity of dispersed particles. The existing separation technology and its efficiency may largely depend on the flotation mixture, which often needs to be adjusted according to the current separation challenges. Due to the need to continuously develop new flotation systems to adapt to the selectivity of some elements, the efforts in process technology may increase. This may lead to major technical and economic defects.
Innovative solutions
Scientists from the Kloster University of Technology in Germany have developed convertible materials by combining highly repeatable process technology, thus achieving a selective and efficient flotation purification process. These compounds are strong and stable, and are based on natural and renewable resources. Depending on the required flotation conditions, substituted and unsubstituted species can be used as collectors or inhibitors. The purification efficiency of flotation can be adjusted by the selectivity of collector according to parameters such as pH value, illumination conditions, temperature and additives. The light source can be used to generate free radical species, but the absence of light source will prevent the formation of free radical species, which will lead to different flotation results. Adding additives that produce free radicals will affect the flotation time. The selective flotation of lithium minerals can be carried out at room temperature or at a specific temperature below or above room temperature.
superiority
Renewable and low-cost resources
Sustainable materials
Strong, stable and convertible compounds
Selective, repeatable and efficient flotation purification technology
Flexible operation mode
High recovery rate
Flotation system has strong adaptability (no need to prepare new or additional flotation system).
The system setup cost is low
app; application
Mineral processing (extracting elements from natural resources)
Recycling of electronic products (such as batteries)
waste water treatment
Cooperation mode:
This technology has high efficiency and repeatability in laboratory scale, and the process scale-up is under development. Can provide authorized cooperation.