The University of Liège is organizing a two-day seminar short course on Platinum Group Metals (PGM) and Automotive Catalytic Converters (ACC). The event is programmed within the context of European EIT RawMaterials Upscaling project CEBRA titled “Integrated Circular Economy Business model for decoupling Europe from PGM supply”. The two-day event will cover a broad range of related topics by featuring a high-level panel of experts in the fields of PGM markets; trade, collection and recycling of end-of-life vehicles; advanced emissions control technologies; hydrometallurgy of PGM as well as the hydrogen sector.

P

GM represent key EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and, production being virtually non-existent in Europe, the EU is entirely dependent on export from South Africa and Russia, the main producing countries which are responsible for 75 to 80% of the PGM world mine supply. On the demand side, ACC represent by far the largest application with a 53% market share in Europe as vehicle manufacturers and car owners need to comply with ever increasingly strict pollution emission standards which can only be achieved with the use of ACC. Beyond Europe and looking at a broader spectrum of automotive applications, the world market for ACC consumes 66% of PGM production and future mobility applications, such as Hybrid Vehicles and Membrane Fuel Cell technology, are vitally dependent on PGM specific properties.

The CEBRA project focuses on the dual objective to manufacture ACC integrating 100% recycled PGM, while simultaneously decreasing the PGM quantity via partial substitution by a low-cost, more abundant and politically less sensitive transition metals such as copper. End-customers, such as personal vehicle owners as well as commercial vehicle operators, will benefit from the resulting price optimization while a broader societal impact is expected from the alleviation of the two main disadvantages. The project will also contribute to the reintegration of PGM in the circular economy to secure CRM for future applications in line with EU's green agenda.

Day 1 - 4 October 2021

8h15 - 8h30 - Welcome address (University of Liège, Belgium)

Session 1 - Markets and regulations

8h30 - 9h00 | Global trade in second hand cars - Patrick Van den Bossche (AGORIA, Belgium)

9h00 - 9h30 | PGM markets – trends in demand, mine supply and recycling - Trevor Raymond (World Platinum Investment Council, UK)

9h30 - 10h00 | Advanced emissions control technologies as part of future-proof Internal Combustion Engines - Joachim Demuynck (Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst, Belgium)

10h00 - 10h15 | Panel and Q&A session

10h15 - 10h30 | Coffee break

Session 2 - Collecting to remanufacturing - CEBRA value chain

10h30 - 11h00 | Collection of ELV and catalytic converters - Catherine Lenaerts (FEBELAUTO, Belgium)

11h00 - 11h30 | ELV recycling and catalytic converters dismantling - Gregory Lewis (Comet Traitements, Belgium)

11h30 - 12h00 | Pre-treatment of spent catalytic converters - Fanny Lambert (Université de Liège, Belgium)

12h00 - 12h30 | Polymetallic catalyst powder synthesis and production of prototype honeycomb monolithic reactors - Marios Kourtelesis (Monolithos Catalysts & Recycling Ltd., Greece)

12h30 - 12h45 | Panel and Q&A session

12h45 - 13h00 | First day closing remarks

Register to day 1

Day 2 - 5 October 2021

8h15 - 8h30 - Welcome address (Université de Liège, Belgium)

Session 3 - Characterization and hydrometallurgy

8h30 - 9h00 | Process Oriented Characterization of EoL PGM and Evaluating Future Urban Mines - Ali Hassan (Université de Liège, Belgium)

9h00 - 9h30 | Hydrometallurgy of PGM - Jochen Petersen (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

9h30 - 10h00 | Use of alternative hydrometallurgical route to recover PGM (Platirus H2020) - Laura Sanchez Cupido (Tecnalia Research and Innovation, Spain)

10h00 - 10h30 | Medium-Scale Hydrometallurgical PGMs Recycling Plants - Barriers and Perspectives for SME recyclers - Anastasia-Maria Moschovi (Monolithos Catalysts & Recycling Ltd., Greece)

10h30 - 10h45 | Panel and Q&A session

10h45 - 11h00 | Coffee break

Session 4 - PGM beyond traditional applications : hydrogen, heavy-duty vehicles

11h00 - 11h30 | Hydrogen production - Nicolas Balczunas (John Cockerill, Belgium)

11h30 - 12h00 | Hydrogen Production by PEM Electrolysis - New PGM-based Catalysts for the Giga-Watt Scale - Philipp Walter (Heraeus, Germany)

12h00 - 12h30 | Platinum as catalyst for fuel cells - Nathalie Job (Université de Liège, Belgium)

12h30 - 13h00 | HD vehicle : a PGM niche sector - Konstantinos Sakkas (Monolithos Catalysts & Recycling Ltd., Greece)

13h00 - 13h15 | Panel and Q&A session

13h15 - 13h30 | CEBRA short course closing speach

Register to day 2