Mari Lundström

Research question

The focus of my research is the role of raw materials in the green transition. More specifically, my area of expertise is hydrometallurgy, a branch of metallurgy that uses aqueous solutions to recover metals from ores, concentrates, and recycled materials.

The decarbonization of our society requires large quantities of metals: for instance, electrification depends on copper, while lithium-ion batteries rely on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite. As demand for these and other materials grows, it is vital to scale up metal production in a smart and sustainable way: integrating principles of the circular economy from the very beginning. 

For example, when developing new battery chemistries, we must also ask whether recycling processes for those materials exist or can be designed. In my group, we address these challenges through process modeling and circular economy tools, helping to ensure that resource use in the green transition is both efficient and sustainable.

 Sustainability Aspects

Materials science can never be done in “vacuum.” By this I mean that sustainability and circular economy must be considered from the very beginning, and this requires collaboration. No one can be an expert in everything. We cannot focus solely on performance. Instead, we need to shift our mindset –when an invention emerges or even in the earlier stages of the design, we should immediately ask questions such as, how will we recycle these materials? Or can we use more abundant and accessible alternatives? 

I am deeply passionate about this: to develop a raw materials’ plan from the outset. This includes asking whether the materials are scalable and whether their use aligns with long-term sustainability goals.