Lecture
MCBIM Colloquium: Supramolecular systems based on CO2 and metal waste material: from fundamental investigations to recycling plant
- Date
- Wednesday 18 September 2024
- Time
- Location
-
Gorlaeus Building
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- CM.3.23
Abstract
Waste recycling and resource preservation are two key challenges related to planetary limits faced by humanity. They encompass organic and inorganic materials such as CO2 produced from hydrocarbon combustion as well as strategic metals contained in end-of life technological devices. Practically, the challenge relies in eco-efficiently turning waste to resource, with the lightest footprint and cost. Waste material is generally a complex molecular mixture whose conversion into resource requires mastering selective self-sorting in mild conditions. This presentation will show how academic investigations at the interface between organic, organometallic, supramolecular, analytical chemistry and electrochemistry, by exploring self-assembling processes within complex organic and organometallic dynamic molecular system, has revealed that organic species generated by CO2 capture can be valorized and act as a library of selective precipitating and chelating agents for metal cations found in lithium-ion batteries. This fundamental knowledge, and the underpinning disruptive concept, have led to the design of the first CO2-sourced metal separation process which is currently scaled up by our spin-off company MeCaWaRe SAS (45 employees) at the ton scale and is intended to be deployed at horizon 2026 in the first eCO2-efficient battery recycling plant.
References
Chetot, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 13580-13587 ; Leclaire et al. Nature Chem, 2024, 16, 1160–1168; Radenac et al. PCT EP 2024/306131.4; Ulm et al. PCT EP 2024/305764.3; PCT EP 2024/306132.2; Ducreux et al. PCT WO 2023/065675; Septavaux et al. Nature Chem. 2020, 12, 202-212; Septavaux et al. PCT WO 2019/053148; Poisson et al. PCT WO 2017/191042; Leclaire et al. PCT WO 2014/188115