Understanding the behavior of metals in complex systems (in liquid and/or solid phase) is at the heart of the development of efficient hydrometallurgical processes for recycling and waste management. Usually, the approaches developed are mostly aimed at the control of unitary steps, by liquid or solid route. The team proposes to integrate all these developments into global extraction-separation-final material sequences, under the concept of circular separative chemistry. This simplification of the processes aims at a better management of the mixtures, a better flexibility regarding raw material of variable composition, a reduction of the number of stages, generally synonymous with a control of the generated effluents. Moreover, the notion of recycling is not restricted to the isolation of a purified metal or element, and the team takes into account the final materials: the processes developed integrate as well as possible the valorization of the targeted metal(s) in the form of finished product, for a similar or different application, with a peculiar interest for its shaping.
The studies carried out in the laboratory are mainly focused on the description and understanding of the properties of molecular and supramolecular systems based on metals (d and f). The aim is to determine the role of interactions between a metal center and its close and far environments, in a process of organization of matter, then to take advantage of this organization to form either complex organic phases specific to a metal, or specific assemblies such as coordination polymers. In this framework, the team does not seek to develop new tools (new molecules, new solids, new synthesis methodologies), while possessing a perfect mastery of existing tools, including mechanistic aspects at the molecular level. The systems thus studied aim at developing innovative separation processes, two- or three-phase, targeting various metals of interest with different physicochemical properties (valency, charge density...) such as transition metals (Pd, Au, Ni, Co, Mn, Ru, Al, Sc), lanthanides or actinides (U, Th and Pu).
These systems are then used for the development of short circuits (open or closed), in various fields treated at the ICSM.
