Research activities
Research into many topics in the context of circular economy is required to realize a FlexiPlant. We present an overview of our previous and current projects and publications in the areas of adaptive process development, sensor development, automation and digitalization, particle-based separation models, process modelling and optimization, life cycle assessment and design-for-recycling.
Publications in peer-reviewed journals
| Name | Journal | Year |
| Recovery of Materials from Refrigerator: A Study Focused on Product Distribution, Recyclability and LCA Evaluation |
Sustainability |
2024 |
| A quantitative particle-based approach for the geometallurgical assessment of tailings deposits |
Earth Science, Systems and Society |
2024 |
| Applying Circular Thermoeconomics for Sustainable Metal Recovery in PCB Recycling |
Energies |
2024 |
| Spectral Characterization of Battery Components from Li-Ion Battery Recycling Processes |
Metals |
2024 |
| ParticleSeg3D: A scalable out-of-the-box deep learning segmentation solution for individual particle characterization from micro CT images in mineral processing and recycling |
Powder Technology |
2024 |
| Multi-Sensor Characterization for an Improved Identification of Polymers in WEEE Recycling |
Waste Management |
2024 |
| PCB-Vision: A Multiscene RGB-Hyperspectral Benchmark Dataset of Printed Circuit Boards |
IEEE Sensors Journal |
2024 |
| Copper and minor precious metals recovery from electronic waste: An energy transition approach to decarbonise copper industry |
Journal of Cleaner Production |
2024 |
| A multi-sensor approach to measuring hydrodynamic parameters in a pyrite-quartz flotation system |
Minerals Engineering |
2024 |
| All About Particles: Modelling Ore Behaviour in Mineral Processing |
Elements |
2023 |
| Testing the robustness of particle-based separation models for the magnetic separation of a complex skarn ore |
International Journal of Mining Science and Technology |
2022 |
| A self-adaptive particle-tracking methodology for minerals processing |
Journal of Cleaner Production |
2021 |
| On the Use of Statistical Entropy Analysis as Assessment Parameter for the Comparison of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Processes |
Batteries |
2019 |
| Multidimensional characterization of separation processes – Part 1: Introducing kernel methods and entropy in the context of mineral processing using SEM-based image analysis |
Minerals Engineering |
2019 |
| Statistical entropy analysis as tool for circular economy: Proof of concept by optimizing a lithium-ion battery waste sieving system |
Journal of Cleaner Production |
2019 |
| Optimal sensor selection for sensor-based sorting based on automated mineralogy data |
Journal of Cleaner Production |
2019 |
| Evaluation of Magnetic Separation Efficiency on a Cassiterite-Bearing Skarn Ore by Means of Integrative SEM-Based Image and XRF–XRD Data Analysis |
Minerals |
2018 |
| Property-based Modelling and Simulation of Mechanical Separation Processes using Dynamic Binning and Neural Networks |
Minerals Engineering |
2018 |
Projects
| Project Acronym |
Name | Funding |
| Active Projects | ||
| Zeitenwende | Securing raw materials through flexible and sustainable closure of material cycles | Helmholtz |
| COMSTONE | Comminution modelling through stochastic geometry and deep neural networks | DAAD |
| WEEE2REE | Pilot project for the use of a modular processing plant to recover technology metals from e-waste | BMBF |
| RESTORE | Automated Sorting and safe pre-processing of EoL-Batteries with novel smart and fast dismantling, and separation technologies for direct reuse of high purity materials in Energy storage application | Horizon Europe |
| CoSilFlot+ | Validation of the CoSilFlot workflow for optimization and upscaling of new reagents in flotation processes | SAB |
| DigiFloat | Digitization and optimization of complex flotation technologies for the treatment of flushing stockpiles | BMBF |
| Car2Car | Technologies for optimized recycling of end-of-life vehicles | BMWK |
| FINEST | Use and management of finest particulate anthropogenic material flows in a sustainable circular economy | Helmholtz |
| Helmholtz Metadata | Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration | Helmholtz |
| Completed Projects |
||
| DYNOSORT | Dynamic Ore Sorting of Polymetallic Stockpiles | EIT RawMaterials |
| GreenBattery - DIGISORT | Digitalization of mechanical sorting processes in mechanical battery recycling | BMBF |
| SPA-4-EnAM | Single particle analysis for predictive engineered artificial minerals processing | DFG |
| inSPECTor | Integrated spectroscopy sensor system for laser-induced fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging | EIT RawMaterials |
| Circular by Design | Resource transition through sustainable product design of consumer goods using the example of a refrigerator/freezer | BMBF |
| RAMSES-4-CE | Raman, Absorption and eMission Spectroscopy in an intEgrated Sensor for the Circular Economy | EIT RawMaterials |
| AFK | Processing of fine-grained polymetallic domestic Sn/W/In complex ores | BMBF |
| GreenBattery HydroLiBRec | Optimized process chains for hydromechanical Li-ion battery recycling | BMBF |
| EuK | Energy transition and circular economy: decarbonization and flexibilization of energy-intensive recycling processes | Helmholtz |
| OptiMet |
Increasing resource efficiency in the metal industry - substituting primary raw materials by reducing downcycling | UBA |
| OREVAL | Raw to recycled materials – advanced characterisation and 3D imaging | EIT RawMaterials |
| 2D-3D scopy | Resource Characterization: from 2D to 3D microscopy | EIT RawMaterials |
| KupferDigital | Data ecosystem for digital material development based on ontology-based digital representations of copper and copper alloys | BMBF |
| SISor | Sensors for Intelligent Sorting | ZIM |
| OptimOre | Increasing yield on Tungsten and Tantalum ore production by means of advanced and flexible control on crushing, milling and separation process | Horizon2020 |
