What is waste for some is a treasure for others—it is a view shared by researchers from the Faculty of Chemistry at WUT. Together with researchers from Europe, they are examining electronic waste, seeing it as a secondary source of valuable critical raw materials. They aim to demonstrate the feasibility of effective recovery and the economic viability of their reuse through a joint initiative under the Horizon Europe program.

The research team, headed by Prof. Wioletta Raróg-Pilecka from the Faculty of Chemistry, is actively engaged in developing leading-edge green technologies for the European Union. Their project, titled "Upcycling of NdFeB Magnets in the EU for Green Applications," has been underway at Warsaw University of Technology since September 1, 2024.

– Being part of this project is not only an honor but also a valuable opportunity for us to grow – says Prof. Wioletta-Raróg Pilecka, research team leader. – This also serves as evidence that the work and achievements of Polish researchers, particularly those from WUT, are recognized globally.

– Electronic waste, generated in vast quantities worldwide, contains significant amounts of valuable metals, including rare earth metals – she adds. – Treating them as ordinary waste is a wastefulness we can no longer afford in today's world. These materials represent a valuable source of critical raw materials. We simply need to examine them closely and choose the appropriate, economical methods for their recovery and management.

Michał Młotek, PhD and Prof. Wioletta Raróg-Pilecka

The project aims to employ a patented method for the electrochemical decomposition of waste NdFeB neodymium magnets into their constituent elements, which will then be reused in high-tech industries—either directly or for the synthesis of catalysts for economically significant processes in the polymer, pharmaceutical, or nitrogen industries.

 – We will leverage our catalytic expertise to develop a new generation of ammonia synthesis catalysts – summarizes prof. Wioletta Raróg-Pilecka. – We will utilize recovered elements, combining common ones like iron with rarer ones like neodymium. The properties of the new compounds will be at least comparable, if not superior, to those of commercially available systems on the market. We base our approach on recycled materials, thereby providing added green value to the technology. We are able to select the composition of the catalysts and the synthesis method to create a catalyst that meets our targeted specifications.

In the subsequent stages of the project, the WUT team will collaborate with industry partners to test new technologies under industrial conditions, validate their effectiveness, and facilitate their swift implementation.

The objective of the project at WUT is to develop green catalyst technology that can be utilized not only in the sustainable production of mineral fertilizers but also for energy-efficient and effective ammonia synthesis as an economical storage solution and carrier of hydrogen. The solution aims to contribute to a sustainable zero-emission economy and support decentralized energy solutions. This strategic initiative is intended to strengthen the European circular economy and enhance its resource independence.

Cooperation

The NEO-CYCLE consortium brings together 23 entities from 12 countries around the world. Among the participants in this initiative are leading academic institutions, research centers, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large industrial centers: Idener Research & Development Agrupacion de Interes Economico (Spain), Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (Germany), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), Flamma S.p.A. (Italy), Politechnika Warszawska, RMF Tech GmbH (Germany), Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas (Lithuania), L’Urederra Fundación para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y Social (Spain), Laser Consult Muszaki-Tudomanyos Es Gazdasagi Tanacsado Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag (Hungary), Non-governmental Agency of European Innovations (Ukraine), Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH (Austria), Asociația de Standardizare din România (Romania), Confederazione Generale dell'Agricoltura Italiana (Italy), Holistic And Ontological Solutions For Sustainability, Lda. (Portugal), Ecoreset SA (Greece), Stena Recycling Srl (Italy), Università degli Studi di Pavia (Italy), Clúster Nacional para la Minería Sostenible y Servicios Asociados de la Península Ibérica (Spain), EcoCastulum (Spain), Casale SA (Switzerland), Regione Lombardia (Italy).

Representatives of the consortium of entities involved in the NEO-CYCLE project at the inaugural meeting in Seville on September 5, 2024

The project "Upcycling of NdFeB magnets in the EU for green applications" (NEO-CYCLE) has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program (HORIZON-CL4-2023-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-42, project number 101138058).

For more information, visit the project's profiles on social media: LinkedIn.