Thermodynamics and its Applications to Waste Valorization and Indium Recovery

该研究计划建议使用已建立的知识库，并通过开发改进的/新的热力学和动力学数据来进一步扩展它，以将工业废物和报废产品完全转化为有价值的商品。原锌生产过程中的浸出渣和电子器件中的透明导电膜不仅具有危险性，而且含有铟等稀有金属，这对于向绿色技术转型和技术经济发展具有战略意义。此外，考虑到加拿大到2050年实现温室气体净零排放的目标，其目标是促进基于氢等清洁能源的碳中和回收工艺的发展。考虑到加拿大是世界上最大的氢生产国之一，这将是一个有前途的方法。 然而，所产生的废物在化学和相成分方面的多样性产生了对不同处理变量的需要，使得实验方法非常昂贵和耗时。因此，本计画提出以知识为基础的方法，包括耦合的有条理的实验设计与模拟。在这方面，需要有可靠的热力学和动力学数据，以便从废物的再循环中生产高质量和高金属价值的产品。此外，基于氢作为还原剂开发的再循环路线在化学、物理和热性质方面与基于化石燃料的路线不同。然而，对于含铟系统而言，此类数据不足或缺失。因此，这项研究计划旨在填补目前的基本空白。在一系列项目中，将为含铟系统开发热力学数据库，并将研究这些系统与氢之间化学反应的热力学和动力学。所产生的数据将用于为这两种废物流设计经济上可行和环境友好的回收路线。从该计划中获得的知识和专业知识不仅有助于确保加拿大在关键材料供应链中的地位，还将为加拿大冶金行业提供应对气候变化和能源短缺的工具。此外，科学界将受益于新生成的热力学和动力学数据。所产生的知识将成为该领域其他研究项目和创新的基础，并可推广到其他应用。除了其科学，技术和工业影响;高素质的专业人士（3个博士，2个硕士，5个本科生）将在平等，多元化，包容性和智力刺激的环境中被雇用和培训。HQP预计将加入，加强和保持加拿大学术机构和冶金工业的竞争力。该方案将有助于填补冶金领域目前的性别不平衡。

This research program proposes to use the established knowledge base and further expand it by the development of improved/new thermodynamic and kinetic data for applications to full conversion of industrial wastes and end-of-life products to valuable commodities. Leaching residues from the primary zinc production and transparent conducting films in electronic devices are not only hazardous but also contain rare metals including indium, strategic for transformation to green technology and technoeconomic development. In addition, considering Canada's target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the aim is to contribute to development of carbon neutral recycling processes, based on clean energy sources such as hydrogen. This will be a promising approach considering Canada as one of the largest hydrogen producers in the world. Nevertheless, diversity of generated wastes in terms of chemistry and phase constituents creates a need for different processing variables, making an experimental method very costly and time consuming. Hence, a knowledge-based approach including coupled methodical experimental design and simulation is proposed in this program. In this context, there is a need for reliable thermodynamic and kinetic data to produce products of high quality and metal value from recycling of wastes. Moreover, recycling routes developed based on hydrogen as reducing agent are different in terms of chemical, physical and thermal properties from those based on fossil fuels. However, such data is inadequate or missing for indium-containing systems. Therefore, this research program will aim to fill in the current fundamental gap. In a series of projects, a thermodynamic database will be developed for the indium-containing systems, and the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions between these systems and hydrogen will be studied. The generated data will be utilized to design economically viable and environmentally friendly recycling routes for the two waste streams. The knowledge and expertise gained from this program will not only contribute to secure the Canada position in critical materials supply chain but also empower the Canadian metallurgical industry with tools to fight against climate change and energy scarcity. In addition, the scientific community will benefit from the newly generated thermodynamic and kinetic data. The generated knowledge will form the ground for other research projects and innovations in the field and can be generalized to other applications. Beyond its scientific, technical and industrial impacts; highly qualified professionals (3 PhDs, 2 MScs, 5 undergraduate students) will be hired and trained in an equal, diverse, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environment. The HQPs are expected to join, strengthen and maintain the competitiveness of the Canadian academic institutions and metallurgical industry. This program will contribute to fill in the current gender imbalance in the field of metallurgy.