Research at Mineral processing Laboratory

The Mineral Processing Laboratory at NTNU has a worldwide experience in mineral processing testing and flowsheet design. The laboratory is the only of its kind in Norway and plays a strategically important role in the shift towards a greener and more circular economy. We offer research and testing services in most physical and chemical processing applications including:

-    Comminution
-    Size classification
-    Gravity separation
-    Magnetic and electrostatic separation
-    Flotation
-    Hydrometallurgy (leaching)
-    Solid/liquid separation (de-watering).

Our research ranges from laboratory scale batch tests to continuously operated campaigns at the pilot scale. 

In addition, we work with close collaboration with the Norwegian Laboratory for Mineral and Materials Characterisation (MiMaC), Chemical / Mineralogical laboratory, and other laboratories at NTNU, who employ experiences academics and technical staff, and have a wide state-of-art instruments. The whole infrastructure allows us to provide complete chemical and mineralogical characterization as well as metallurgical testing programs. 
 

Current projects

HARARE - Hydrogen-based metal recovery from waste. Project funded by European Union, under Horizon 2020 (No. 958307), 2021-2025.

RFC Upscaling - New REFLUX flotation cell technology upscaling for ore flotation. Project co-funded by EIT Raw Materials, EU (No. 20098), 2021-2024.

Askepott - Utilization of the value creation potential in fly ash and waste acid. Project co-funded by the Research Coucil of Norway, 2021-2025. 

RareGreen - Sustainable processing methods for rare earth elements. Project co-funded by EIT Raw Materials, EU, (No. 21130), 2022-2025 .

EMINENT - Energy MInerals for the NEtzero Transition. Project co-funded by the Research Council of Norway, 2023-2025.

REEsilience - Sustainable production of Rare Earth Elements and other products from the Fen Carbonatite Complex. Project co-funded by the Research Council of Norway, 2023-2025.

HoIE-LIB - Developing a holistic ecosystem for sustanable repurposing and/or recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in Norway and the EU. Project funded by NTNU Interdisciplinary Sustainability Initiatives, 2022-2026.

4D MinPro - Development of smart collectors for mineral and metal extraction. PhD project funded by NTNU Faculty of Engineering.

Contact: Pshem Kowalczuk