Duration: 06/2024-05/2027

Mareike Fritze, M.Sc.
+49 3731 39-2103
mareike-thea [dot] fritze [at] bio [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de

The CuSlag2RM project is a European research project designed to support the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and to advance the EU Raw Materials Initiative.The project focuses on the recovery of critical raw materials from historical copper slag waste developing environmentally friendly, low-waste processes. Copper slag is generated in large quantities (approximately 2.2 tonnes per tonne of copper) during the smelting and refining of copper ores such as chalcopyrite. Despite limited reuse in applications such as abrasives, construction materials, and ballast, most copper slag is disposed of in dumps or stockpiles. Rising global copper demand driven by electrification and decarbonization increases slag volumes, causing long-term environmental impacts related to land use and potential contamination

CuSlag2RM involves partners from across Europe with complementary expertise in metallurgy, microbiology, and materials science. The project aims to develop processes to recover critical metals—including rare earth elements (REEs), Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Mn, and Sr—from various historical copper slags using bioleaching and innovative chemical leaching techniques.This supports the valorization of legacy waste, reduces environmental impacts, and decreases reliance on primary raw material extraction. Ultimately, CuSlag2RM seeks to enable the comprehensive use of copper slag as a source of critical raw materials, while generating a residual material suitable for sustainable landfilling or for use as a functional mineral filler in construction applications such as cement or geopolymers.The development of bioleaching is investigated as a sustainable approach to metal extraction, confirming its potential for the processing of copper slags and providing further insights into the bioleaching of copper slags.

In cooperation with Prof. Dr. Martin Bertau, Institute of Chemical Technology, TUBAF