LAPSE:2026.0495
Published Article
LAPSE:2026.0495
Intensified liquid-liquid process design for critical metals extraction from e-waste
June 12, 2026
Abstract
Critical metals are essential for clean energy technologies but, due to being mainly sourced through mining, the critical metal supply chain is susceptible to geopolitical risks. Electronic waste (e-waste), however, can serve as an alternative "urban mine", but the recovery at high purities requires complex and resource-intensive processing. This work explores the modeling and optimization-based design for the intensification of liquid-liquid extraction in small channels as a means to recover critical metals from e-waste. Small channels can achieve high mass transfer rates while mitigating the environmental impact. A superstructure-based approach is employed to represent the alternative system configurations, while a plant propagation algorithm is used to optimize the multi-objective problem to recover Neodymium (Nd) and Samarium (Sm). The multi-objective problem aimed to tackle product quality, process economics, and environmental impact. The results demonstrated that optimally designed extraction can support efficient recovery of critical metals; however, decision making support may be essential for the selection of one process design from those identified as optimal in a multi-objective design approach.
Critical metals are essential for clean energy technologies but, due to being mainly sourced through mining, the critical metal supply chain is susceptible to geopolitical risks. Electronic waste (e-waste), however, can serve as an alternative "urban mine", but the recovery at high purities requires complex and resource-intensive processing. This work explores the modeling and optimization-based design for the intensification of liquid-liquid extraction in small channels as a means to recover critical metals from e-waste. Small channels can achieve high mass transfer rates while mitigating the environmental impact. A superstructure-based approach is employed to represent the alternative system configurations, while a plant propagation algorithm is used to optimize the multi-objective problem to recover Neodymium (Nd) and Samarium (Sm). The multi-objective problem aimed to tackle product quality, process economics, and environmental impact. The results demonstrated that optimally designed extraction can support efficient recovery of critical metals; however, decision making support may be essential for the selection of one process design from those identified as optimal in a multi-objective design approach.
Record ID
Keywords
critical metals, extraction, multi-objective optimization, process intensification, Superstructure optimization
Subject
Suggested Citation
Katsoulas K, Pankajakshan A, Olasinde M, Chao C, Galvanin F, Angeli P, Fraga ES. Intensified liquid-liquid process design for critical metals extraction from e-waste. Systems and Control Transactions 5:2340-2348 (2026) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.121590
Author Affiliations
Katsoulas K: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Pankajakshan A: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Olasinde M: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Chao C: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK
Galvanin F: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Angeli P: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Fraga ES: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
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Pankajakshan A: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Olasinde M: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Chao C: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK
Galvanin F: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Angeli P: ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
Fraga ES: Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE, London, UK [ORCID]
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Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
5
First Page
2340
Last Page
2348
Year
2026
Publication Date
2026-06-12
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 2340-2348-616-SCT-5-2026, Publication Type: Journal Article
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Published Article
LAPSE:2026.0495
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.121590
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Jun 12, 2026
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Links to Related Works
References Cited
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