Norway is investing in green technology, but what happens when important materials are imported from countries such as South Africa, China and Russia? In the innovation project RecirkIrRu, researchers have worked with groundbreaking technology to recover iridium and ruthenium. The result is less need for mining, increased competitiveness for Norwegian industry and sustainable recycling of metals that are important for the green shift.
In a world that is constantly crying out for more sustainable solutions, the Research Council of Norway has supported a project that has worked to recycle two rare and important metals: iridium and ruthenium. The RecirkIrRu project, now completed, led by K.A.Rasmussen Group (KAR), has achieved valuable results. The project is an innovation project and received NOK 3.4 million in support.
Why are iridium and ruthenium so important?
Iridium and ruthenium are essential metals in the green shift. Iridium is used as a catalyst in the production of green hydrogen and in fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity. Ruthenium is used in catalysts to streamline chemical reactions, including in the production of synthetic fuels, and in solar cells to increase efficiency.
Recycling leads to a more sustainable future
"Metals come from mining and most of the metals do not come from Europe. China, South Africa and Russia have large natural reserves of these metals, which gives these countries a certain power when it comes to the production of goods," explains Federica Mudu, R&D manager at K.A. Rasmussen.
With the RecirkIrRu project, the researchers want to reduce dependence on mining by developing new methods for recycling iridium and ruthenium from EoL goods ("End Of Life"). This is not only beneficial for the environment, but it also contributes to economic sustainability by reducing the costs and cost risks associated with purchasing new critical materials from abroad.
"Even though we don't have mines in Norway, we have access to these valuable metals through all the products we surround ourselves with. Western companies buy metals originating from countries such as South Africa, China and Russia to make everything from cars and electronics to catalytic converters used in industry. These metals are important for technological development and for maintaining the standard of living we have today. By recycling them, we can ensure access to the resources and at the same time reduce dependence on imports," says Mudu.
This is how refining works: from old jewellery to new
The refining process can be compared to taking apart a piece of jewellery and making something new out of it.
"Imagine that you hand in a piece of gold jewellery. We analyse it, find out how much gold it contains, and pay you for the gold value. Next, we refine the gold, that is, we separate it from other metals and impurities. Finally, a jeweler can use this refined gold to create a new piece of jewelry. The same principle applies to catalytic converters and other products that contain valuable metals. We receive them, recycle the metals, make new catalysts and deliver them back to the industry so that they can be reused," Mudu explains.
The great thing about metals is that they can be recycled indefinitely," says Mudu.
Technological challenges and innovative solutions
But unlike iron, aluminium and copper, for example, iridium is one of the most difficult metals to dissolve and one of the metals that reacts as little as possible with its surroundings. What makes iridium a useful metal in use also makes it difficult to handle in the recycling process. Iridium has a very high melting point and can withstand extreme temperatures, making it ideal for use in things like spark plugs in jet engines. But these properties also make it extremely difficult to melt and/or dissolve.
In the project, the researchers have worked on alternative methods for dissolving iridium and getting it into a solution that can be used for further refining.
"We work with hydrometallurgy, a technique that uses water-based solutions to dissolve metals. It has been challenging, especially considering iridium's high resistance to dissolution. Nevertheless, we have managed to develop new methods inspired by the recycling of aluminium, something we have extensive experience with in Norway.
Societal benefit and cooperation
The support from the Research Council of Norway has been crucial for RecirkIrRu. The project has led to increased knowledge and competence enhancement regarding the recycling of precious metals in Norway. Collaboration has also been established between SINTEF and KAR in this particular field.
- Environmental benefits: The project has helped to reduce the environmental impact by recycling rare metals such as iridium and ruthenium. This reduces the need for new mining operations.
- Economic gains: By recycling these metals, companies can reduce the costs and risks associated with sourcing new materials from mining operations. This can also lead to lower prices for the end users.
- Technological innovation: The project has led to the development of new methods and technologies for recycling that can be used in other industries and projects. This leads to more technological progress and innovation.
- Knowledge sharing and collaboration: The project has initiated collaboration between SINTEF and KAR in the field of hydrometallurgy/recycling, which has led to increased knowledge and competence enhancement regarding the recycling of precious metals in Norway.
"Developing and keeping this technology in Norway is strategically important for several reasons. Firstly, it gives us control over the value chain and reduces dependence on foreign actors. We avoid sending valuable resources out of the country and we ensure that we have access to these important metals for future green technology development. Secondly, it helps to build up Norwegian expertise and create new jobs in a future-oriented field. Finally, by having the recycling technology locally, we can ensure that the process takes place in an environmentally friendly way according to Norwegian standards," says Mudu.