Kalkine: Iondrive Expands DES Platform into E-Waste Urban Mining

Highlights

• Iondrive (ASX:ION) initiates evaluation of proprietary DES platform for electronic waste recovery

• Project targets critical and precious metals from printed circuit boards

• Supported by Green Industries SA and aligned with national and EU circular economy strategies

Iondrive (ASX:ION), listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and part of the broader materials segment relevant to the ASX 200, is undertaking the expansion of its Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) platform into the electronic waste recovery space. The program is aimed at printed circuit boards (PCBs), focusing on the sustainable recovery of high-value metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, and rare earth elements.

The company, known for its work in battery recycling, is building on existing infrastructure and technical foundations to evaluate the application of DES for complex feedstocks found in end-of-life electronics. Testing is set to commence in the third quarter of the year, with early results expected before year-end.

Focus on printed circuit boards for metal recovery

PCBs have been selected as the core feedstock for the initiative due to their high concentration of recoverable critical and precious metals. The evaluation will assess how Iondrive’s biodegradable, low-toxicity DES solvent can facilitate the closed-loop recovery of these materials.

Unlike traditional smelting or acid-based leaching methods, the DES approach offers a sustainable alternative that aligns with multiple regulatory frameworks, including Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan and the European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan.

Strategic alignment with circular economy objectives

The program reinforces Iondrive’s alignment with global and domestic efforts to enhance resource efficiency. It also addresses challenges identified in the Circularity Gap Report, which indicates a declining rate of global circularity despite rising material consumption.

As urban mining becomes increasingly significant due to shorter electronic product life cycles, the demand for efficient and localised recycling methods has grown. Australia, which generates above-average levels of electronic waste per capita, currently has limited domestic processing capacity for critical and precious metals.

Testing supported by research partnerships and funding

The DES testing phase will be conducted at the University of Adelaide under a grant provided by Green Industries SA. The research aims to confirm the DES process’s selectivity and environmental profile when applied to e-waste streams. The project is also expected to qualify for the nation’s Research and Development Tax Incentive.

In addition to its core application in PCB processing, Iondrive is also examining the use of DES for Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) processing. This further highlights the modular and adaptable nature of the platform for multiple metal recovery scenarios.

Recovering value from global e-waste trends

E-waste volumes are rapidly increasing worldwide, driven by fast-paced technology adoption and reduced product longevity. While the global electronic waste stream contains significant quantities of recoverable metals, formal recycling rates remain low due to export-centric systems and high permitting barriers associated with conventional methods.

The introduction of a DES-based urban mining model presents a lower-barrier path for domestic metal recovery and processing. The company's evaluation aims to position the technology within a favourable regulatory and patent landscape while offering an environmentally sustainable route to extract resources from electronic scrap.

By advancing DES for e-waste, Iondrive is leveraging its strengths in clean technologies to address a growing materials challenge across the ASX-listed resources landscape.