Technology critical metal recycling using ultrasonics and catalytic etchants

技术关键金属（TCM）是一种重要的特殊金属，通常是“关键”金属，每种金属都有自己的特定属性。它们是整个工业中大多数主要应用的基本推动者，特别是在清洁能源和数字技术方面，它们对世界脱碳至关重要。对中药的需求正在增长，需要更广泛的材料和循环经济方法来实现新兴技术，以实现能源转型和净零目标。英国目前100%依赖进口中药，因此回收这些金属并发展循环经济至关重要。不幸的是，这些金属分布很分散，用目前的非选择性湿法冶金技术很难保持其价值。这项研究提案的愿景集中在使用有针对性的催化蚀刻剂，可以控制复杂结构中TCM的氧化还原状态。该项目将针对光伏和热电设备等分层结构，尽管它同样可以应用于各种其他结构，如印刷电路板和复合材料，特别是对航空航天或风力可再生能源等行业具有重要价值的结构。该项目的新奇在于将催化蚀刻剂与超声波技术相结合，以实现几乎瞬时的分离，并使选择性，快速生产过程得以发展。该项目旨在开发一系列可持续的、廉价的催化剂，这些催化剂最好可以使用空气再生，模拟生物和地质环境中的情况。实际的回收解决方案需要快速有效，而对金属做到这一点的秘诀是增加质量运输和改变形态。该项目解决了前者使用聚焦超声和后者使用新的环境温度离子液体。

Technology critical metals (TCMs) are an essential distinct subset of specialist, often 'critical' metals, and each has its own specific properties. They are fundamental enablers of most major applications throughout industry and especially in clean energy and digital technologies, and they are essential for the world to decarbonise. The demand for TCMs is growing, and a wider range of materials and a circular economy approach are needed for the emerging technologies that will enable the energy transition and net zero aims. The UK is currently 100% import-reliant on TCMs and so it is essential to recycle these metals and develop a circular economy. Unfortunately these metals are diffusely distributed and maintaining value is difficult with current non-selective hydrometallurgical techniques. The vision of this research proposal centres on the use of targeted, catalytic etchants which can control the redox state of TCMs from complex architectures. This project will target layered structures such as photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices although it could equally be applied to a variety of other structures such as printed circuit boards and composites, particularly those of significant value to industries such as aerospace or wind renewables. The novelty of this project lies in combining catalytic etchants with ultrasonic techniques to bring about almost instantaneous separation and enable selective, fast-throughput processes to be developed. This project aims to develop a range of sustainable, inexpensive catalysts which can preferably be regenerated using air emulating what is done in a biological and geological environment. Practical recycling solutions need to be rapid and efficient and the secret to doing this for metals is to increase mass transport and change speciation. This project addresses the former using focussed ultrasound and the latter using novel ambient temperature ionic fluids.