Grant: Alliance Grants
Université Laval
$219,500.00
Photocatalytic Remediation Improving Mining Economy and Sustainability (PRIMES)
FY 2023-24
Summary
Rare earths (REEs) are principally exploited as core materials to produce permanent magnets, deemed fundamental for the advancement of communication and computing technologies. With an estimated 15.1 million tonnes of rare earth oxides available in Canada, their mining could represent a unique occasion for directly sourcing the required raw materials to the Canadian technological sector. REEs mining sustainability represents a concrete challenge due to the required harsh conditions for their extraction and separation. The processing of the ore minerals produces GHGs and other pollutant emissions (particulate matter, H2S, radionuclides), representing a serious environmental and health threat. Circular economy applied to the reprocessing of mining waste can improve the recovery of REEs and contribute to decarbonizing the mining sector while producing energy and enhancing the sustainability of the industry. Passive treatments like the photocatalytic remediation of mining waste represent an energetically valid and cost-effective solution. Some of the natural minerals occurring in REE ores are considered an emerging class of materials in photocatalysis. Using mining waste in photocatalysis represents a pioneering approach to reducing emissions while recovering critical minerals and producing energy. Within this project, we aim to: (i) characterize the REE mining waste in terms of mineral composition and emissions; (ii) synthesize each active component and investigate the photocatalytic efficiency in terms of REE recovery, emission reduction, and energy generation; (iii) select and study the most promising natural photocatalysts and provide a proof of concept for their use in mining waste reprocessing. Our industrial partner, Torngat Metals Ltd., is engaged in the development of this project and will provide guidance throughout it and samples of mining waste from different steps of the ore processing. Together with the partner, we are devoted to limiting the environmental impact of mining while engaging the Inuit, Innu, and Naskapi communities to help face the sustainability challenges of the mining sector.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
586673-2023
Name nom
Tessitore, Gabriella G
Department département
Chimie
Organization id
51
Institution établissement
Université Laval
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2023
Award amount
219500
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
202
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Mineral resources ( prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
Area of application fr
Ressources minérales (prospection, exploration, mines, extraction et préparation)
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Environmental engineering
Research subject en
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Application title
Photocatalytic Remediation Improving Mining Economy and Sustainability (PRIMES)
Keyword
Circular Economy; Decarbonization; Mine Reclamation; Mining Waste Reprocessing; Passive Treatments; Photocatalysis; Pollutants Remediation & Conversion; Radionuclides Capture; Rare earths; Spectroscopic Characterization
Application summary
Rare earths (REEs) are principally exploited as core materials to produce permanent magnets, deemed fundamental for the advancement of communication and computing technologies. With an estimated 15.1 million tonnes of rare earth oxides available in Canada, their mining could represent a unique occasion for directly sourcing the required raw materials to the Canadian technological sector. REEs mining sustainability represents a concrete challenge due to the required harsh conditions for their extraction and separation. The processing of the ore minerals produces GHGs and other pollutant emissions (particulate matter, H2S, radionuclides), representing a serious environmental and health threat. Circular economy applied to the reprocessing of mining waste can improve the recovery of REEs and contribute to decarbonizing the mining sector while producing energy and enhancing the sustainability of the industry. Passive treatments like the photocatalytic remediation of mining waste represent an energetically valid and cost-effective solution. Some of the natural minerals occurring in REE ores are considered an emerging class of materials in photocatalysis. Using mining waste in photocatalysis represents a pioneering approach to reducing emissions while recovering critical minerals and producing energy. Within this project, we aim to: (i) characterize the REE mining waste in terms of mineral composition and emissions; (ii) synthesize each active component and investigate the photocatalytic efficiency in terms of REE recovery, emission reduction, and energy generation; (iii) select and study the most promising natural photocatalysts and provide a proof of concept for their use in mining waste reprocessing. Our industrial partner, Torngat Metals Ltd., is engaged in the development of this project and will provide guidance throughout it and samples of mining waste from different steps of the ore processing. Together with the partner, we are devoted to limiting the environmental impact of mining while engaging the Inuit, Innu, and Naskapi communities to help face the sustainability challenges of the mining sector.
