STREAM - Structure-oriented development of energy-efficient processes and resource-efficient primary raw material extraction through new processing and modeling approaches

Ores often vary greatly in structure and composition. That microstructure is usually not taken into account in conventional processing methods which leads to higher energy consumption and lower yields.

STREAM combines materials science, process modeling, and process engineering to develop selective crushing and flotation technologies that are specifically tailored to the properties of the ores. Soft sensors, data analysis, and machine learning are used to continuously monitor and optimize processes - for greater energy efficiency and higher material recovery, especially for lithium and rare earths.

HIF research focus

• Characterization of ore structures
• Soft sensor development for inline measurement using imaging analysis methods
• Calibration and validation of soft sensors and process simulation
• Development of a particle-based flotation model and process optimization
• Simulation/evaluation for the entire process in terms of liberation degree and purity

Overview