The Huelva coastal system is affected by historical mining activities in the Tinto-Odiel River basins, which have generated acid mine drainage and highly metal-enriched sediments that accumulate in the river, estuarine and dredged materials. This situation poses significant environmental and operational challenges for the Port of Huelva, where dredging is essential but is increasingly constrained by regulations, disposal costs, and environmental risks. At the same time, growing freshwater scarcity highlights the limitations of conventional treatment approaches.
CRiMat addresses these challenges through the Water Challenge- Adiabatic Sonic Evaporation and Crystallization (ASEC) technology, a chemical-free physical process that enables simultaneous freshwater production and solid crystallization. Implemented within a Zero Liquid Discharge Plus (ZLD+) approach, the system reduces waste volumes, prevents secondary pollution and enables the recovery of European Critical Raw Materials from dried solids. Compatible with renewable energy and residual heat, CRiMat provides a circular and scalable solution for port and mining-impacted environments.
CRiMat’s main goal is to depurate contaminated dredged material and mining-impacted fluids and recover E_CRMs (metals, metalloids and rare earth elements) while delivering sustainable freshwater for users in the Huelva area. The project aligns with UN SDGs and European Green Deal objectives, and is framed to contribute to EU environmental policies (e.g. WFD, European Green Deal, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals- UNSDGs, Marine Strategy).
O1) Optimize ASEC for contaminated sediments from dredged material and mining residues to obtain freshwater and CRMs from dried solids.
O2)Design operational variables of ASEC deployment targeting above 10 m3 per day of freshwater and between 2 and 5 t per day of dry solids.
O3) Implement circular economy with freshwater and dried solids recovery, with E_CRM extraction from the solids.
O4) Integrative approach to valorization/speciation to improve commercial distribution of E_CRMs.
O5) Achieve environmental protection (avoid dumping) while obtaining commercial/physicochemical valorization (metals/REE).
