A new research centre that aims to revolutionise how crucial metals are extracted, used and reused in clean and digital technologies across the UK is one of five new centres that has been announced by the government.
The Camborne School of Mines and Exeter University will lead the new Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre in Technology Metals and will be joined by experts from the Universities of Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester and the British Geological Survey, as well as 40 partner companies and organisations, according to The Engineer.
The new facility has been funded as part of a £22.5 million government investment into the creation of a circular economy for the technology metals such as cobalt, rare earths and lithium that are essential in all clean and digital technologies including electric cars and wind turbines.
The centre aims to develop a new circular economy, from the first stages of extraction, to enable secure and environmentally-acceptable circulation of these crucial materials within the UK economy.
The Camborne School of Mines, Exeter will provide expertise from the Environment and Sustainability Institute, the Renewable Energy Department and the Business School.
Professor Frances Wall, from the University of Exeter and who will lead the project said: “With its exploration projects for the technology metals, lithium, tin and tungsten, the region has the opportunity to lead in whole systems circular economy actions for these metals.”
She added that the research will start with a case study of the industry ecosystem in Cornwall.
The five new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres will explore how the reuse of waste materials in the textiles, construction, chemical and metal industries can deliver huge environmental benefits and boost the UK economy.
The centres will also generate the environmental, social and economic understanding required in the transition to a circular economy, and how to strengthen the economy while improving the use and reuse of finite resources
If you need toll processing companies, then talk to us today.