Our LAST NEWSLETTER OF 2024 IS OUT!
We are pleased to announce the release of our latest PROMETIA newslett...
13 December, 2024Metnet is a European network under PROMETIA, bringing together independent pilot plants to support the upscaling of mineral and metallurgical processes. We offer a specialized testing environment with advanced equipment and expert support to develop, validate, and refine technologies from raw materials to final products.
Coordinated by Christa Nimbona, R&D Engineer at Elkem ASA, Metnet bridges the gap between research and industry, offering tailored solutions for diverse operational needs. Join PROMETIA to access Metnet’s state-of-the-art pilot facilities and expertise, accelerating the upscaling of your mineral and metallurgical innovations.
The Metnet network consists of several pilot plants in Europe, covering many different aspects of mineral processing, metallurgy and production of metals. Through Metnet the customers have access to a network of knowledge that can work cross-sectorial and innovatively by combining the expertise of all members. By contacting either of us, you will find the specific competence and equipment you need.
We are pleased to announce the release of our latest PROMETIA newslett...
13 December, 2024The 11th PROMETIA Scientific Seminar, held from 26 to 28 November 2024...
04 December, 2024As we mark PROMETIA’s 10th anniversary, we take a moment to look back ...
26 November, 2024Andrzej Chmielarz served as PROMETIA President from 2019 to 2021, guid...
01 November, 2024(Bio)leaching
The (bio)leaching pilots at BRGM are used to study and optimize innovative processes aiming to recover critical raw materials from primary and secondary resources at different scales (from some liters to some cubic meters). The data produced during pilot operations is used for developing numerical models and process simulation, for techno-economic and environmental impact assessments and for further process upscaling to design industrial operations.
Recovery of Rare Earths from permanent magnets -VALOMAG – PILOT SCALE
The two pilot processes developed at BRGM under the Valomag EIT project represent significant advancements in the recovery of NdFeB permanent magnets from hard drives and the extraction of the rare earth elements contained. The mechanical sorting process achieved an impressive recovery rate of over 95% for these magnets, highlighting the effectiveness of the technology.
Additionally, the extraction of rare earth elements using a soft hydrometallurgical process with organic acids is noteworthy for its potential environmental advantages. Both processes have been patented, indicating their novelty and potential commercial application. Their incorporation into the PACT project (TRL 8-9) submitted this year signifies that these processes are nearing the final stages of development and validation before full-scale implementation. This is an exciting step toward enhancing the recovery of valuable materials from electronic waste and promoting sustainability in resource utilization.
ISEC gathers CEA historical R&D activities (nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear waste management such as separation processes used to recycle uranium and plutonium in La Hague reprocessing plants, conditioning matrix) to transfer proven expertise towards other materials cycles. It develops three fields of research:
CEA / ISEC works closely with CEA / Liten located in Grenoble. It is dedicated to the energy transition in three key areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency/storage and development of materials, spanning the entire value chain from the development of materials to pre-industrialization.
CEA is member of METNET and owns several pilot plant equipments in mineral processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy (such as filters, gas treatment column, leaching autoclave, etc…)
CRM Group (located in Liège and Gent, Belgium; www.crmgroup.be) is a non-for-profit research organization providing its customers with innovative technological solutions for the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and associated materials, from primary and secondary raw materials up to finished products and their recycling, in the spirit of Circular Economy and Sustainable Development.
CRM Group combines 290+ skilled and experienced researchers with unparalleled testing facilities, from laboratory to pilot and even semi-industrial scale. As a member of the Metnet network within Prometia, CRM Group may offer access to a wide lab and pilot infrastructure in the following fields :
Mission
23 specialists covering the fields of:
Equipment
With Eramet Ideas, as Research and Innovation Center…
To propose sustainable and innovative solutions and prepare Eramet’s future.
From mining to metals, our research and innovation experts invent value-creating solutions in response to the challenges facing our industry (Developing our activities in the metals used in the energy transition, decarbonizing production, producing faster and better, …).
A hub of expertise…
Eramet Ideas (EID) is made up of multicultural, multi-disciplinary teams who harness their expertise in Geometallurgy (mining of complex deposits based on mineralogical, environmental and operational data), Hydrometallurgy (ore recovery using chemical solutions) and Pyrometallurgy (ore recovery using ultra-high temperature smelting and reduction) to optimize existing processes, develop new deposits and devise disruptive solutions.
Cutting-edge tools…
This center of excellence boasts state-of-the-art tools such as France’s first scanning electron microscope (SEM), equipped with QEMSCAN mineralogical analysis software, as well as pilot and semi-industrial facilities (3 pilot halls and associated laboratories for mineralurgy, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy) conducting experimental campaigns on scales ranging from grams to tons. These experimental tools are enhanced by their digital twins ̶ mineralogy, data science, 3D modeling and design.
GTK Mintec, located in Outokumpu, Finland, consists of mineral processing laboratory and pilot plant and is equipped to develop mineral processing methods along the beneficiation chain from mineralogical analysis to dealing with process waste.
Facilities
The facilities contain the equipment in comminution and classification, flotation, low and high intensity magnetic separation, gravity concentration and dense medium separation (DMS), and dewatering.
Automatic control system
The pilot plant is equipped with a high standard process automatic control system and enables the testing of continuous beneficiation processes at the capacity range of 0.5 to 5 t/h and sample amount from 20 to 300 tons.
On various minerals and metals
GTK provides solutions and methods that promote sustainable and cost-effective mining and mine environment management on various minerals and metals, e.g., battery minerals (spodumene, petalite, graphite), battery metals (Ni, Cu, Co, etc.), base metals, REE, gold, PGM, diamond, industrial minerals etc.
Digitalization
GTK is building a virtual Pilot Plant based on real one by using Digital Twins tool to improve the operation of the installation and for a digitized customer experience.
Łukasiewicz – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals is equipped with advanced pilot-scale installations that facilitate cutting-edge research in metallurgy and materials recovery. These installations are crucial for testing and optimizing processes before they are implemented on industrial scale. Main components of Pilot Equipment:
By providing a platform for innovative technologies and sustainable practices, these installations contribute significantly to the efficiency and effectiveness of metal recovery processes, supporting both industrial applications and environmental goals
The Materials Processing Institute is a globally recognized research and innovation center specializing in the development and commercialization of advanced materials and processes. Our focus areas include:
Innovation & Commercialization
We support clients from early-stage scientific development to large-scale demonstration, offering:
Normanton Plant: Steel Research & Production
Services & Expertise
Our expertise spans steel, metals, ceramics, glass, and natural materials, delivering innovative solutions to enhance materials and processes.
Swerim conducts industrial research and development on metals, from raw materials to finished products, with a vision of a fossil-free, circular industry.
Our Focus Areas
Why Swerim?
By combining expertise with cutting-edge facilities, we help industries stay competitive and drive sustainable development.
We would like to thank our Industrial Support Organisations for supporting the development of our network and helping us identify the needs of industry.
Metnet Industrial Support Organisations (ISO)