40
nanotimes
10-01 :: January 2010
EU-Projects
Toxic Acids //
New Solvent Technologies to Replace Use of Harmful Toxic Acids
S
cientists at the University of Leicester are spear- The concept of this project is to create an environ-
heading the development of new ways to replace mentally friendly and affordable rechargeable batte-
harmful, carcinogenic, toxic acids and electrolytes ry for electric vehicle applications. It will develop
which are currently used in many commercial metal a more sustainable technology that is light-weight,
finishing and energy storage processes. A team of cheaper and more attainable as the batteries current-
academics, PhD students and PostDoc researchers ly used are heavy, expensive and potentially harmful
from the University of Leicester’s Department of to the environment if damaged.
Chemistry has received over EUR1 million ($1.39m)
funding to develop and apply environmentally RECONIF uses environmentally sustainable ionic
friendly solvents. liquid solvents to extract metals form solid waste,
instead of strong acids or caustic alkalis. The project
The researchers have developed ionic liquids will focus on recovering heavy metals from domestic
solvents which provide a safe, non-toxic, environ- battery waste and is funded by the EPSRC/ Technolo-
mentally friendly alternative to harmful solutions. gy Strategy Board.
These new liquids can act as “drop-in” replacement
technology, and perform as well as, or even better ASPIS will start in 2010, and seeks to develop a new
than, existing processes. technology for surface treatment of circuit boards
which are found in many electronic devices. The
The funding obtained will drive forward an on-going commercial processes currently in place are pro-
programme of research in the Department that was blematic, with failures expensive to industry, and
started 4 and a half years ago by another EU project ASPIS will aim to provide an alternative method with
( http://www.IONMET.eu) that aimed to develop funding also from the EU Seventh Framework Pro-
new ionic liquid solvent technologies to transform gramme.
metal finishing.

http://www.leicester-ils.co.uk/
The grants will go towards three new major pro-
jects:
POLYZION is funded under the EU Seventh Frame-
work Programme worth a total of EUR3.5 million
($4.86m) with 9 University and Industrial partners.