The overall aim of REMIND is to develop an innovative framework of interplay between Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and innovative Water Treatment Technologies in the logic of a sustainable growth for mining industries. The novel paradigms explored are expected to drastically reduce the environmental impact due to extensive water and energy consumption, and to release of untreated wastewater during the production cycle of copper and gold. The REMIND collaborative network among European Union, Chile and Ecuador is in line with EU policy and strategy for raw materials supply; moreover, this partnership supports the economic and research efforts of Latin American countries towards a more eco-friendly and RES-driven development. The bi-directional knowledge transfer activities implemented in REMIND aim to: i) implement a rational use of water resources in the logic of circular economy; ii) promote a carbon-free technological approach (water-energy nexus) for reducing conventional energy resources requirements, and iii) mitigate health environmental risk in two demonstration sites (mining districts of Antofagasta – CL and Regione de l’Oro – EC), and iv) exploit the intersectorial cooperation between academia and industry by setting best practices for knowledge transfer in analogous contexts. REMIND brings together 7 leading High Education Institutions, 1 Research Institute, 1 Business Association and 3 Industrial Companies from 5 Countries (Italy, Spain, Sweden, Chile and Ecuador), and implements a multisectorial and transdisciplinary network.

The project MEASURED aims at developing and demonstrating at TRL7 advanced membrane materials for Pervaporation (PV), Membrane Distillation (MD) and Gas Separation (GS) technologies applied to acrylic ester production, membrane manufacturing and gas separation from a carbon capture & utilization (CCU) stream. PV targets 1 m2 of membrane processing H2O flux > 1.0 kg/m2·hr using a 55-channel tube in the industrial setting of ARKEMA, a stability > 90% over 3 months of testing, resulting in a CAPEX 30% lower compared to current cost - from 2100 €/m2 to 1500 €/m2. MD aims at treating the daily amount of generated wastewater (70 L/h) from the manufacturing facility of PVDF membranes at GVS Spa with energy supply via about 100 Solar/Photovoltaic collectors, showing higher chemical resistance (> 10%), >25% reduction of water footprint, permeability of reused MD for Microfiltration > 500 L/m2·hr·bar. GS prototype will be scaled-up to a membrane area of 1.2 m2/module using a 61-channel tube installed downstream the GAYA methanation unit of Engie, reducing the membrane cost (produced at large scale) from 1944 €/m2 to 795 €/m2 (almost 60%). At the end of the project, the integrated MEASURED technologies will reach a TRL7 demonstration over 20,000 hours operation under (industrial) operational conditions. MEASURED includes a thorough multiscale modelling and simulation techniques including a full Life Cycle Assessment and addresses the societal implications to increase the acceptance and further market readiness. The interdisciplinary consortium – overall 17 participants: 2 SMEs, 7 industries and 8 Universities/research centers – will comprehensively study the development of advanced materials, reactor design and process configuration to identify the most sustainable options from a demonstration, techno-economic and environmental point of view.