Utilization of Catalytic Materials

Utilization of catalytic materials

Recycling and reusing spent catalysts and other modern materials

The research activities of the team are focused on the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials (CRMs) from waste, mainly from spent automotive catalysts and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEEs), including platinum group metals (PGM) and rare earth elements (REE). Our specialization includes laboratory experiments for obtaining environmentally friendly catalysts with low or zero platinum metal content, as well as detailed characterization of precursors, intermediate products, and final materials to improve their catalytic behavior. Our scientific interests lie in the field of materials science, particularly the design, synthesis, and new applications (reuse) of recycled materials: comparative studies on bulk and nanoscale materials; improvement and optimization of laboratory and industrial synthesis methods; in situ and ex situ Mössbauer spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction; relaxation phenomena, superparamagnetism, mixed-valent compounds; environmental issues, green and sustainable chemical processes, etc.

Special attention in our research is given to revealing the potential of mechanochemistry as: a) a more environmentally friendly, efficient, and industrially applicable method for sustainable and ecologically friendly treatment of materials (obtaining catalysts, selective leaching of metals, etc.); b) improving the properties of materials for their further reuse in the synthesis of active catalysts for wastewater and gas purification, production of new automotive catalysts, etc.

The team continually enhances its capacity by accumulating scientific experience and publishing activities, making it a desirable partner in collaborative projects: two current European projects related to mechanochemistry, four COST actions, as well as numerous national projects focusing on catalyst synthesis, investigation of fine powder particles, biogenic materials, etc.

European projects:

1.) H2020-MSCA-RISE-2020, Проект № 101007669:Chemistry of the Platinum Group Metals, CHemPGM (2021-2025)

2.) Project H2020 ERA-MIN3: Improved microwave recycling of rare earth elements and plastic from waste electrical and electronic equipment and their reuse in the production of new magnetic components. (MW4REMAM), Project № 237 (2022-2025)