Name of the Project
MINERALS project.

Location
The pilot plant will be located on the site of a seawater desalination plant yet to be determined.

Project Owner/s
ACCIONA and LEITAT Technology Centre.

Project Description
The European Commission has classified certain minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, lithium, rubidium or boron, as critical raw materials.

The project will address the development and validation, at pilot scale, of advanced technologies for the selective extraction of high-value elements from the brine created in the reverse osmosis seawater desalination process.

The technologies include liquid membranes based on the incorporation of ionic liquids and extractants into a polymer matrix, nanofibre adsorbents based on the incorporation of selective nanoparticles and precipitation processes.

The main expected impact of the project is the extraction of elements with an efficiency of more than 90% in the case of monovalent ions – lithium, rubidium, boron; more than 65% for calcium; more than 80% for magnesium and more than 70% for potassium, always in relation to the concentration of seawater brine.

At the scale of a medium-sized reverse osmosis desalination plant, with an output of 200 000 m³/d, the extraction of these target elements could mean significant additional income, as well as bringing the desalination process closer to the principles of the circular economy.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
€600 000.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ACCIONA, tel +34 91 663 28 50 or email prensa@acciona.com.
LEITAT Technology Centre, tel +34 93 788 23 00 or email leitat@leitat.org.