Joana Almeida has a PhD in Eco-Construction and Rehabilitation, CENSE (2021) and a MSc in Environmental Engineering (2015), both from NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon. Her research work has focused the electro-based technologies development for critical raw materials recovery, harmful compounds removal and hydrogen production from wastewater and secondary mining resources. Further reuses of secondary resources in construction materials, and life cycle assessment approaches to optimize technological processes have also been a research topic.
1. In a nutshell, could you briefly describe what RELiEF is all about?
The RELiEF project aims to assess the recovery of lithium (Li) from potential liquid and solid secondary resources, to reduce global Li waste generation, in a circular economy perspective.
2. What is the impact of RELiEF? Who will benefit the most?
This project aims to contribute to decrease EU dependency on imported battery chemicals and raw materials and improve EU competitiveness in the value chain of battery storage. Also, it will strength the bridge between companies and academia, once small/medium-sized enterprises, non-profit real-time operating systems, universities and associated industrial partners are working together to achieve these goals, promoting knowledge transfer between entities.
3. Could you briefly describe your institutional and personal role within the RELiEF project?
NOVA wants to be part of the green energy transition, contributing for the development of new sustainable strategies. I have been a researcher on electrodialytic technologies for critical raw materials recovery, from several environmental matrices. The electrodialytic process consists in the application of a low current density (mA), between pairs of electrodes, to promote the separation/removal of substances. In this sense, I am applying this process to recover lithium from secondary liquid and solid resources, such as secondary lepidolite mining resources, effluent from lithium batteries recycling, and pharmaceutical effluent with lithium content.
4. Which results have already been achieved on your end and what will be the next milestones?
Deep eutectic solvents, and inorganic/organic acids and bases were tested for lithium leaching, with low Li extraction (below 20%) from mine tailings. On the other hand, electro-based technologies demonstrated favourable results for the recovery of lithium from the effluent of batteries recycling (maximum Li recovery achieved = 88%) and low potential for Li recovery from lepidolite secondary resources (maximum Li recovery achieved = 30%). The next steps will be to deep the study on lithium recovery from effluents, that have shown promising results.
5. For you personally, what has been the most exciting/most challenging part of the project so far?
Apart from all the interesting scientific research on critical raw materials recovery from different samples with lithium, the opportunity to collaborate with external partners, and learn from different know-hows and areas of expertise is being very inspiring.
6. Which are the most significant challenges and opportunities related to the recycling of raw materials in your opinion?
The challenges are related to the complexity of methods, and its optimization. However, the development of new strategies is highly empowered by the EU commission and may promote to add value to secondary resources and create new markets for approaches that provide a safe and efficient manner to recover critical raw materials.
7. How will RELiEF concretely contribute to the reduction of lithium waste in the future?
Lithium is now considered a critical raw material due to the high risk of scarcity and economic value, and a strategic element due to its role towards clean energy transition. Moreover, the lithium demand is expected to quadruplicate in 8 years. In a circular perspective, if lithium could be recovered in medium-high grades from resources that are considered waste, such as mining residues and effluents from related industries, this could contribute not only to reduce the lithium waste generation, but also the primary exploitation of lithium.
