{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260101182"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260101182","attributes":{"code":"DE260101182","administering-organisation":"Curtin University","announcement-administering-organisation":"Curtin University","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Recovery of rare metals from e-waste through mechano-electrochemistry. This project aims to harness mechano-electrochemistry for the efficient one-pot recycling and repurpose of rare metals and plastics from e-waste. Australia is among the world's larger producers of e-waste on a per capita basis, yet only 35% are properly recycled, with much still reaching landfills, which lead to environmental concerns and the loss of valuable resources. This project expects to fill the current knowledge gap in efficient recycling of rare metals in e-waste. This will provide substantial benefits both to Australia and internationally by enhancing the reuse of e-waste, minimizing landfill waste, reducing the ecological impact of mining and improving community health.","funding-current":465707.00,"funding-at-announcement":461701,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Jinyang","familyName":"Zhang","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-0984-3218 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Jinyang","familyName":"Zhang","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-0984-3218 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"Curtin University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"WA"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"Curtin University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"WA"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3406","name":"Physical Chemistry","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"340604","name":"Electrochemistry","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"340699","name":"Physical Chemistry Not Elsewhere Classified","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"510303","name":"Electrostatics and Electrodynamics","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"240601","name":"Development of Recyclable Or Biodegradable Componentry, Packaging Or Materials","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"240699","name":"Environmentally Sustainable Manufacturing Activities Not Elsewhere Classified","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280105","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Chemical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)","Italy","Netherlands","Singapore"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"Australia is among the world's larger producers of e-waste on a per capita basis, but only about 35% of the materials from e-waste are properly collected and recycled, with a significant portion still ending up in landfills. E-waste contains materials such as heavy metals and difficult-to-degrade plastics, which can seep into the environment, polluting soil and water supplies. Traditional techniques for rare metals recovery from e-waste such as solvent extraction and selective precipitation often suffer from low selectivity and recovery rates, significant chemical usage, and associated environmental risks. Additionally, these approaches fail to enable the simultaneous recycling of rare metals and hard-to-degrade plastics. Inspired by triboelectrification and mechano-electrochemistry at interfaces, this project aims to harness mechano-electrochemistry for the efficient one-pot recycling and repurposing of rare metals and plastics from e-waste. The experimental model described in this proposal will offer a promising technology for large-scale, efficient, and selective recovery of rare metals from e-waste, enhancing the reuse of e-waste, reducing costs, and mitigating mining’s ecological impact, for example, one ton of PCBs can recycle nearly 300 g Pd, valued at $10,000. It will also minimize landfill waste and toxic exposure, improving community health while promoting sustainability and international collaboration."}}}