In an increasingly complex and volatile economic environment in which markets and competition are global, TR remains firmly committed to R&D and knowledge generation as the primary drivers and guarantors of its business in the medium and long term. On the technological front, the company’s strategy is based on developing new technologies, consolidating existing technologies, and diversifying into new sectors and applications. The R&D&I activities of the Proprietary Technology Development Division (DDTP) are aligned with the TR Group’s corporate strategy and address the main technological challenges facing the sectors in which the Group operates. The strategic lines of research are focused on the areas of raw materials (metal recovery, biomass), the environment (waste and water recycling), and energy (energy storage).
Focused on the design and development of customized processes for metal recovery from a wide range of primary sources (ores, concentrates, and liquid solutions) and secondary sources (industrial waste, ash, slag, sludge, end-of-life batteries, and “end-of-life” materials). This line of business seeks to transform complex streams into high-value intermediate or final products with consistent quality and guaranteed traceability. The goal is to maximize resource efficiency, reduce waste generation, and contribute to more sustainable and competitive global supply chains.
• Silver (Ag), lead (Pb) from ECOLEAD metallurgical waste
Focused on the development of hydrometallurgical technologies for the recovery of critical or geostrategic metals essential to the automotive and defense industries, as well as the renewable energy sector, among others. REEs, Mn, gallium, phosphorus, cobalt, lithium, and nickel are recovered from various sources (primary = mining; secondary = by-products of the chemical or mining industries; mining waste), generating high-value products for the market that will be used directly by industry. The incorporation of these technologies will improve circularity processes within the company itself, helping to reduce dependence on imports of these elements from other countries.
• Rare Earth Elements (REE) from various mineral sources: RARETECH
• Phosphorus (P) from the ash resulting from the incineration of sewage sludge (PHOS4LIFE)
• Gallium (Ga) from complex industrial streams GAXTRACT
• Nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), and graphite (C) from the black mass generated during RECYCLION battery recycling
• Silicon (Si), silver (Ag) from RESIL2VOLT photovoltaic waste
Focused on developing solutions with low environmental impact and low carbon emissions, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. This includes proprietary technologies in areas such as CO₂ capture (CCUS), green hydrogen production, waste-to-energy, and sustainable industrial processes
• Development of carbon capture technology using a chemical looping process with calcium (Ca)
IN PROGRESS
• Development of green hydrogen production technology based on anion exchange membranes (AEM)
IN PROGRESS
• Innovative designs for high-temperature electrolyzer stacks/modules and integration of the balance-of-plant (BoP) system to provide efficient solutions for energy-intensive industries, utilizing their SOEC/PCEC waste heat
IN PROGRESS
• New battery configurations and designs to efficiently convert electrical energy into high-value-added products: POWER TO CHEMICALS
IN PROGRESS
