Project data
Funding Entity: Regione Toscana
Call: REGIONE TOSCANA PR FESR 2021-2027, Bandi di Ricerca e Sviluppo 2023 (Bandi 1 RS 2023 – POR FESR 2014/2020) approvati dalla Regione Toscana con decreto dirigenziale n°27716 e n°27717 del 29 dicembre 2023
Coordinator: Eruit S.r.l (Italy)
UNISI Principal Investigator: Prof. Cecilia Viti
Department: Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (DSFTA)
Start date: 1 May 2024
End date: 5 September 2026
Description
The ARTÙ research project plays a strategic role in developing an integrated advanced manufacturing process for managing all inert by-products and residues—both containing and not containing strategic materials such as lithium and rare earths—generated during the production and use of sands for the ceramic industry, including frits and tile mixtures. Eurit S.r.l., the project leader, operates two major mining sites (Elba Island and Roccastrada) and a granite treatment plant in Buddusò, Sardinia. The Elba mine extracts potassic feldspar from aplitic rock, while Roccastrada produces kaolin-rich sandy material from altered rhyolitic rocks. The Sardinian plant processes granite waste to obtain feldspathic sand with low chromophore content and a ferromagnetic by-product rich in rare earths. The project’s core lies in developing an advanced chemo-physical separation technology for all solid products, co-products, and by-products, to obtain both high-purity materials for the ceramic industry and concentrates enriched in strategic elements. A comprehensive petrographic analysis will identify rare earth–bearing phases in Buddusò materials and lithium-bearing minerals from Tuscan deposits. All materials will be processed at the Elba site, potentially serving as a collection hub for ceramic by-products compatible with mining operations. The technical challenge is to enhance existing magnetic separation with gravimetric and other chemo-physical processes tested with academic partners. The innovation aims for TRL 8 readiness. The project will characterize dominant mineralogy, quantify valuable phases, and assess innovative enrichment and chemical extraction methods up to TRL 6. Environmental and ecotoxicological safety will be evaluated to ensure immediate, sustainable production. Ultimately, ARTÙ will establish a circular value chain minimizing waste and reinforcing Europe’s autonomy in sourcing strategic minerals.
Disclaimer: This project has received co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Tuscany Region under the PR FESR 2021-2027 framework.