Research Spotlight Interview with Cédric Coomans (ELECTRA project)
Cédric’s journey into rare earth research started with a professional bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, where he collected plenty of hands-on laboratory experience. He t
SOLVOMET
News
Solvomet/SIM2 is exploring opportunities for collaboration in critical raw materials in Kazakhstan
In June 2026, Liuba Lukina, project manager from SOLVOMET and SIM² KU Leuven participated in the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress (AMM 2026) and the Critical Raw Materials
Solvomet KU Leuven Launches New Project REE-FLEX to Strengthen Europe’s Rare Earth Industry
KU Leuven has recently launched a new EIT RawMaterials KAVA upscaling project: REE-FLEX. This initiative aims to reinforce the European Union’s ability to separate rare earth
Solvomet KU Leuven Signs First-Ever Services Agreement with Uzbekistan’s TMK
Solvomet KU Leuven has signed its first-ever Services Agreement with TMK (Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex). The agreement was formalised during the dedicated session &ldquo
Fourth ERC Grant for Professor Koen Binnemans
We are proud to share that Prof. Koen Binnemans, head of the Solvomet R&I Centre, has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept Grant for the ADONIS proje
Exploring the Lindy Effect in Hydrometallurgy
A new open-access publication by Prof. Koen Binnemans (ERC Advanced Grant CIRMET recipient, head of the SOLVOMET R&I Centre) and Dr. Ir. Peter Tom Jones (Director of KU Leuven
A Successful Launch: First International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium
On September 9-11, the Solvomet R&I centre hosted the inaugural International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium (ICHS 2024) in Mechelen (Belgium), bringing together over 150 a
Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy Call for Papers on Circular Hydrometallurgy
The Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy invites submissions for its upcoming topical collection, "Circular Hydrometallurgy."
Upgrading FeNi towards battery-grade Ni using continuous counter-current SX
SOLVOMET/SIM² researchers have successfully demonstrated a hydrometallurgical flowsheet for upgrading ferronickel (Class-II nickel) into battery grade nickel (Class-I nickel) in a
Join us at ICHS 2024 Symposium (9-11 Sep 2024, Mechelen)
Full programme for ICHS 2024 is out (First International Symposium on Circular Hydrometallurgy, Mechelen, Belgium, 9-11 September 2024).
Lithium recycling from pyrometallurgically-processed spent Li-ion batteries (II)
This study by HiTemp researchers from SIM² KU Leuven explores chlorination roasting as a method for recovering lithium from Li-containing slag, which is a promising alternative l
Selective Lead Extraction from Zinc Calcine and Zinc Leaching Residue
In the framework of the SULTAN project, researchers from VITO and KU Leuven collaborated on developing an innovative solvometallurgical leaching method for extracting lead from zin
