The evaluation and optimization of separation method for the utilization of unused resources including waste material.

When the separation of useful element from waste or ore is considered, the optimization of preprocessing and separation methods promotes the process efficiency and enables to utilize potential resource. In this research, the preprocessing and separation methods are optimized based on material’s compositional and textural features. The properties of the processing material are obtained from characterization techniques in microscopic scale such as electron probe microanalysis and is used to understand the macroscopic behaviour of the material.

1) Rare metal recovery from waste hybrid car battery.
2) The development of the mineral processing method of Co-rich crust.

    Compositional and textural analyses such as electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffractometric analysis, polarization microscopy, and microscopy in addition to quantitative texture characterization by image analysis are applied to initial and processed samples. Based on their results, optimum preprocessing and separation conditions are considered.