DEAR0002100

The overall objectives of the project are to optimize and scale NIHCF electrodes for NH4¿ recovery and validate performance in real wastewater.

Discover and fabricate Mg-(anti)selective electrodes through computational screening and experimental synthesis.

Conduct TEA and LCA in parallel with technology development to benchmark costs, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions and to integrate both recovery modules into a dual-ion prototype producing market-ready products.

Roca Water

THE RECOVER PROGRAM SEEKS DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO SOURCE HIGH VALUE ENERGY MATERIALS FROM AQUEOUS WASTE STREAMS. SPECIFIC PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE THE FOLLOWING: • ENABLE REPLACEMENT OF 50% OF CONVENTIONAL AMMONIA SUPPLIES, AND FULL REPLACEMENT OF KEY CRITICAL METAL SUPPLIES; • RECOVER AND VALORIZE MULTIPLE HIGH VALUE ENERGY MATERIALS FROM AN AQUEOUS WASTE STREAM; • REDUCE ENERGY DEMAND BY 30% AND CO2EQ EMISSIONS BY 70% FOR AMMONIA AND CRITICAL METALS OBTAINED THROUGH AQUEOUS WASTE STREAM RECOVERY RELATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTION METHODS (E.G., HB, HARD-ROCK MINING); AND • RECOVER MARKET-VALUABLE PRODUCTS AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE. MARKET-VALUABLE PRODUCTS ARE THOSE THAT CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD ON TODAY’S MARKET. AMMONIA-BASED PRODUCTS INCLUDE COMMERCIALLY SOLD FERTILIZERS, AS WELL AS HIGH PURITY AMMONIA, NITROGEN-BASED SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, AND HYDROGEN. CRITICAL METALS INCLUDE METAL-ENRICHED PRECIPITATES PURCHASED BY METAL RECYCLING COMPANIES, AS WELL AS HIGH PURITY METALS AND PRECIPITATES SOLD AS COMMODITIES. COST ESTIMATION GUIDELINES FOR METAL-ENRICHED PRECIPITATES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. CAPABLE TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE ENERGY EFFICIENT, HIGHLY SELECTIVE, AND DURABLE OVER EXTENDED USE. PROCESSES WILL INVOLVE FEW SEQUENTIAL STEPS AND WILL BE AUTOMATED, SCALABLE, AND ADAPTABLE TO EXISTING OR NEW WASTEWATER FACILITIES. THE RECOVER PROGRAM SUPPORTS ARPA-E’S STATUTORY GOALS TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC AND ENERGY SECURITY OF THE U.S. THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT: • DECREASE ENERGY-RELATED IMPORTS: ELIMINATE IMPORTS OF AMMONIA AND SELECTED CRITICAL METALS FOUND IN AQUEOUS WASTE STREAMS; • IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY: IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF PROCURING MARKET-VALUABLE FORMS OF AMMONIA AND CRITICAL METALS BY ELIMINATING THE ENERGY NEEDS FOR MINING, BENEFICIATION, AND ORE LEACHING, AS WELL AS BY ELIMINATING THE ENERGY NEEDS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN HB; • REDUCE EMISSIONS: REDUCE CO2EQ EMISSIONS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES MENTIONED ABOVE, REDUCTION OF N2O EMISSIONS FOR RECOVERED AMMONIA, AND ELECTRIFICATION OF RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES; AND • IMPROVE RESILIENCE, RELIABILITY, AND SECURITY: ONSHORE THE PRODUCTION OF CRITICAL METALS TO ENSURE THAT METALS NEEDED TO REACH NET-ZERO TARGETS ARE PRODUCED AND AVAILABLE AT HIGH QUALITY AND AT PRICES THAT ARE COMPETITIVE WITH IMPORTS.

81.135 - Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) [DOE]

Alameda, California United States

City-Wide

Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters SBIR/STTR (RECOVER SBIR/STTR) (DE-FOA-0003511)