RoboAI Green - Circular Economy Competence Centre in Technology Metals is a joint project of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences and Prizztech Oy. This regionally significant research cluster was elevated to a research entity of the RoboAI Research and Development Centre last year.
The aim was to develop a systematic way for Satakunta to support experiments and business activities in the circular economy of technological metals and to improve the region's metallurgical know-how. The project focused on how to efficiently collect, identify and separate equipment and components, such as batteries and electronics containing valuable technology metals.
The research was carried out in strong collaboration with more than 30 companies and research institutes. Several pilot projects were carried out, the most challenging being the development of laser spectroscopy equipment for elemental analysis of solid and molten metals.
– The project gave a strong start to the RoboAI Green research entity and its ten researchers will continue to implement the roadmap for the growth of the battery and technology metals sector in Satakunta in collaboration with Prizztech's Green Growth team, says Pekka Suominen, Research Manager of the RoboAI Research and Development Centre.
Development work will continue in the research entity
Research in the RoboAI Green research entity will focus on the development of laser spectrometry and artificial intelligence methods, as well as on promoting the circular economy of batteries through new identification methods. Research will include online analysis of molten metal and whether a combination of AI and laser spectroscopy can reliably identify and sort battery materials for recycling. In recycling, it is important to identify and separate raw materials as accurately as possible so that they can be recycled as efficiently as possible.
- The work done and the know-how accumulated in RoboAI Green has attracted the interest of several companies, and development work on battery materials, for example, will continue together with industry," adds Johanna Valio, Project Manager of the AIST project.
- There are several industrial plants in Satakunta that process molten metal, including the Suurteollisuus industrial park in Harjavalta and Kupariteollisuuspuisto in Pori. These plants would benefit significantly from online analysis of molten metal, which would improve process control and enable wider use of recycled raw material. The SUMEA project will further develop a molten metal spectroscopy system to meet this need," says Leena Nolvi, project manager and lecturer.
| AIST: A novel AI-based Spectroscopic Technique and a futureready research laboratory for recycling of battery materials
The project will develop a method that uses a combination of spectroscopy and AI to identify and distinguish the material composition of battery materials in industry thus guiding the batteries more efficiently to the right recycling processes or improving the quality of the recycled material. Funded by: Ministry of Education and Culture |
| SUMEA - Molten metal analysis to promote the circular economy
The SUMEA project aims to enable better recyclability of engineering metals. The project will pilot the analysis of molten metal using spectroscopy under laboratory conditions. Funded by: co-funded by the European Union, Regional Council of Satakunta |
