During the first half of the WIDEX project, TUKE staff participated in training on optimized hydrometallurgical processes for the recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs). Provided by Fraunhofer IKTS (Freiberg, Germany), the training comprised pre-training materials, hybrid seminars, and on-site experimental sessions at Fraunhofer IKTS to apply and disseminate the acquired knowledge.
The training introduced emerging technologies and practical strategies for CRM recovery, focusing on sustainable approaches for both primary and secondary feedstocks. Participants gained insights into state-of-the-art processes, including solvometallurgy, CO2-assisted lithium leaching, and electrochemical separation techniques.
Hydrid seminars
Seminars focused on the three main approaches selected for CRM recovery with particular emphasis on lithium and rare earth elements, given their strategic importance and supply risk. Online seminars covered teoretical description of the different technologies, key players wordwide and technology maturity. A bread audience was attending to the seminars including students, researchers, and professionals interested in hydrometallurgical processing.
On-site seminars
From October 7 to 14, 2025, TUKE representatives attended advanced on-site training at Fraunhofer IKTS. The seminars combined theoretical explanations with practical demonstrations, allowing participants to observe how these emerging technologies are applied to both primary and secondary feedstocks. The hands-on component included the pre-separation through flotation technology, lithium early stage recovery by using COOL-Process in a 230 L reactor, electrochemical separation via the electrodialysis pilot plant, and solvometallurgical techniques for selective metal recovery.
