Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Colorado School of Mines received a $591,656 CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development) award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2031. The award funds research and development of an electrochemical method for selective recovery of critical metals from complex waste materials, with lithium-ion batteries serving as the primary model system. The project will generate fundamental scientific knowledge regarding how applied voltage, electrolyte chemistry, and interfacial reactions govern metal dissolution pathways and selectivity, addressing critical gaps in electrochemical separation science and environmental engineering.

Beyond research deliverables, the project establishes an integrated education and outreach program designed to advance understanding of selective electrochemical leaching processes while training students through direct research participation and community engagement activities. The research outcomes are intended to strengthen U.S. supply chains for critical metals essential to clean energy, transportation, defense systems, and modern electronics, while simultaneously reducing chemical consumption and environmental impact compared to conventional metal recovery methods. By validating that metal selectivity is controlled by both thermodynamic redox potentials and kinetic factors such as electrolyte chemistry and temporal modulation of electrochemical potential, the project will contribute to more reliable and sustainable domestic sourcing of materials critical to national economic and security interests.