Center of Excellence SOURCES

Center of Excellence in Circular Economy First Year of Action is Summarised in Autumn Symposium

Tallinn, 29.11.2024 – This Friday, researchers from the Circular Economy Center of Excellence will gather to share insights and results from the first year of action on advancing sustainability and circular economy technologies. The event brings together interdisciplinary workgroups to present research and explore innovative solutions for a greener future.

The workshop will be opened by introduction from CoE leader Riina Aav, on the critical role of collaboration in tackling global resource challenges.

Morning session will showcase developments in the extraction, utilization, and recovery of critical resources from progress in Strategic Mineral Resources  and innovative synthesis and application of materials in Carbon-Based Resources Workgroups.    

Presentations on research at TalTech will include advancements in inorganic technologies for 2024, sustainable mineral foam block development with CO₂ curing, and critical element recovery from Estonian phosphate rock. Topics will also cover metallic extraction from black shale using thermal treatment, hydrogen decrepitation techniques for Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnets, and advances in asymmetric organocatalytic electrosynthesis, as well as mechanochemical method for synthesis of receptor molecules. Researchers from University of Tartu will present development of lignin-based high-performance polymers.

In the afternoon session TalTech and KBFI researchers from Circular Technologies Upscaling Workgroup presentations will highlight novel approaches to recycling and upcycling various materials, including nutrient recycling from source-separated urine, lithium battery recycling, and textile fiber valorization methods. Additional topics will cover structural research of kerogen, phenolic waste valorization, innovative uses for oil shale byproducts in snow and ice melting agents, and rapid synthesis techniques for MOFs.

Final session of the day on results of Circular Business Ecosystem and Modeling Workgroup will address future research by analyzing geopolitical aspects of resource value chains, explore circular economy concepts and sustainability motivations, and investigate potential scenarios and attention patterns in the circular economy.

SOURCES Center of Excellence activity will help to step toward a sustainable future by uniting experts across fields in action to address critical challenges in resource management, recycling, and circular business ecosystems.

Event agenda

Kalle Kirsimäe: Natural Resources Are Wealth, but Not a Thing of Beauty

Natural resources are wealth, but not a thing of beauty. As a nation, we need to know, based on scientific research, what we have here, in what quantities, with what quality, as well as the potential damages, benefits, and economic impacts, writes academician Kalle Kirsimäe.

Read the full article on ERR's portal.

Establishment of the Baltic Circular Hotspot

Helsinki, 19.11.2024 - Baltic Circular Hotspot is a collaborative initiative designed to drive the transition from linear to circular economies across the Baltic States and Nordic countries. This effort is formalized through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that brings together key stakeholders committed to sustainability and innovation. MOU was signed during the Nordic Circular Summit 2024 in Helsinki.

Signing of the memorandum (LinkedIn)

Read more about the event here

PUBLICATION: Degradation of imidazolium-based ionic liquids by UV photolysis and pulsed corona discharge: The effect of persulfates addition

Dmitri Nikitin, Sergei Preis, Niina Dulova

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts with unique properties but pose environmental risks due to high solubility and toxicity. Many ILs resist conventional wastewater treatment, necessitating alternative methods. This study examined the degradation of imidazolium-based ILs using pulsed corona discharge (PCD) and UV photolysis with persulfates (PMS and PDS) as oxidants. The ILs studied were [Emim][Cl], [Omim][Cl], and [Emim][Br], varying in alkyl chain length and anion type. Results showed complete degradation, with rates influenced by alkyl chain length and anion type ([Emim][Cl] > [Omim][Cl] > [Emim][Br]). UV/oxidant combinations strongly activated persulfates, while PCD effects varied based on oxidant concentration. Sulfate radicals played a role in all methods. Energy efficiency was comparable for PCD and UV/PDS for some ILs, with UV/PDS outperforming PCD for [Omim][Cl].

Publication DOI

PUBLICATION: Mechanochemically driven covalent self-assembly of a chiral mono-biotinylated hemicucurbit[8]uril

Elina Suut-Tuule, Tatsiana Jarg, Priit Tikker, Ketren-Marlein Lootus, Jevgenija Martõnova, Rauno Reitalu, Lukas Ustrnul, Jas S. Ward, Vitalijs Rjabovs, Kirill Shubin, Jagadeesh V. Nallaparaju, Marko Vendelin, Sergei Preis, Mario Öeren, Kari Rissanen, Dzmitry Kananovich, Riina Aav

This study demonstrates the mechanosynthesis of chiral mono-biotinylated hemicucurbit[8]urils (mixHC[8]s) via solid-state reactions involving D-biotin, cyclohexa-1,2-diylurea, and paraformaldehyde. By leveraging mechanochemistry to enhance non-covalent interactions and eliminate solvents, the selective self-assembly of these macrocycles is achieved. Analysis of intermediates provides insights into the dynamic covalent chemistry underlying the formation of these structures. The resulting mixHC[8]s exhibit potential for anion binding and derivatization. Immobilized on aminated silica, the material demonstrates practical utility by effectively capturing perchlorate from complex matrices.

Publication DOI

PUBLICATION: Exploring Pathways to Circular Economy Practices in Estonian Manufacturing SMEs: A Fuzzy-Set QCA Approach on Stakeholder Pressure and Collaboration

Tarlan Ahmadov, Wolfgang Dieter Gerstlberger, Khusbu Rahman

sss

Publication DOI

Riina Aav: The Circular Economy Helps Mitigate the Shortage of Strategic Raw Materials

At a time when much of the strategic raw materials come from China and Russia, and increasingly strict export restrictions are imposed on their supply, it has become critically important for Europe to find alternative solutions. Even in our own "backyard," there are numerous resources that could be utilized sustainably, writes Riina Aav, head of the Center of Excellence for Circular Economy of Carbon-Based Resources at Tallinn University of Technology.

Read the full article on the Novaator portal.

The First Conference of the Circular Economy Center of Excellence Took Place

On April 12, 2024, the first conference of the Strategic Mineral and Carbon-Based Resource Circular Economy Center of Excellence consortium was held at Kultuurikatel.

The Center of Excellence, launched in 2024 under the leadership of Professor Riina Aav, is dedicated to the circular economy of raw materials. Researchers are working to address technological challenges related to the (re)use of mineral and carbon-based resources.

The research groups within the center analyze the availability of strategic raw materials, develop more environmentally friendly chemical technologies, and evaluate circular economy business models. Funded for seven years, the center also focuses on issues related to plastics, textiles, and water purification, as well as assessing the sustainability of technologies from both environmental and supply chain security perspectives.

The conference, attended by over 50 participants, featured presentations by the heads of the center's working groups, including Academician Prof. Kalle Kirsimäe, Andres Trikkel, Sergei Preis, Kristiina Kaldas, Riina Aav, Lauri Vares, Tarmo Kalvet, Wolfgang Dieter Gerstlberger, and many other scientists. Members of the advisory board also participated, and Mihkel Krusberg, an expert on European Union policies, delivered a keynote presentation.

At the consortium conference, interdisciplinary research groups shared ideas to address a complex challenge: how to transition an economy primarily reliant on natural resources to one that increasingly reuses anthropogenic resources.

Event agenda