Innovative reagents
Depressants, collectors, promoters, molecular and chemical ligands — all of them serve as reagents in the recovery of minerals and metalliferous raw materials. At HIF, we integrate novel target-specific reagents into our processes and develop entirely new sustainable, high throughput, highly selective and economic reagents to improve not only efficiency but also the environmental impact of process technologies.
Here are a few examples of our studies, many of them done in collaboration with industry:
- CoSilFlot+ Project: Optimisation and upscaling of reagent systems
- Nanoparticle depressants
- Polyether-tethered imidazole-2-thiones, imidazole-2-selenones and imidazolium salts as collectors
- Flotation separation of galena from sphalerite using hyaluronic acid (HA)
- Lanthanide extraction triggered by self-assembly of heterodinuclear Zn(II)/Ln(III) Schiff base/carboxylic acid complexes
- Synthesis conditions on the in situ grown MIL-100 (Fe)-chitosan beads
- Selective extractants for the recycling of rare earth metals from luminescent fibers
Bio-reagent development and bioengineering for green extraction reagents
To transform classical metal extraction into being more efficient, less energy-intensive, and to decrease the use of toxic chemicals, we explore the application of biotechnological methods to develop sustainable reagents. For that, we make use of:
Microorganisms
Microorganisms influence geochemical processes such as the weathering and formation of rocks in which they bind to and transform mineral components or metals through metabolic processes. We explore these skills to develop new metal recovery processes using the following mechanisms: bioleaching, bioflotation and biobeneficiation.
Examples:
Microbial metabolites
Microorganisms form metabolic products that interact with minerals or dissolved metals. We test microbial metabolites as bioreagents in extraction or separation processes. Biosurfactants, for example, are used as environmentally friendly bioreagents in flotation processes for the separation of metal ions. Siderophores, which are microbial complexing agents, can be used for the recovery of gallium, indium or other high-tech elements from highly diluted aqueous solutions as demonstrated in our GaLlophore technology.
Examples:
Peptides
Special peptide compounds in the form of a filter act as a biological fishing rod to remove gallium from industrial wastewaters
Through molecular biotechnology, we design and adapt biomolecules for specific technical applications. Peptides, the "building blocks" of proteins can, for example, be combined as desired to bind selected materials or metals. We apply the so-called phage surface display technology to microorganisms (bacteriophages) that carry peptides with specific characteristics. Through molecular modeling, genetic engineering, and further modification, we adapt these peptides for the use in separation processes or for the modification of surfaces. See also: Biokollekt and Pep2Rec.
Examples:
