XTRACT Project

XTRACT at the 15th Panhellenic Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering
2026-06-03 11:00 - 2026-06-05 15:00 (Europe/Athens)
XTRACT was presented by partner Technical University of Crete (TUC) at the 15th Panhellenic Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering, held in Chania, Greece, on 3–5 June 2026.

The oral presentation focused on the phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils through the combined use of Atriplex halimus and chelating agents. The event provided an opportunity to share research findings and engage with the scientific community on sustainable environmental remediation approaches.

XTRACT Showcased at the 2nd Automation & Robotics Expo
2026-04-25 10:00 - 2026-04-27 19:00
We are pleased to highlight the successful presence of the XTRACT Project at the 2nd Automation & Robotics Expo, held from April 25–27 at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens, where it was represented by ACCELIGENCE LTD.Throughout the exhibition, visitors had the opportunity to explore the project through a range of informational materials. Leaflets were distributed to provide insights into its scope, while a dedicated banner ensured a strong visual presence at the booth.Engagement was a key highlight of the event. Attendees were able to interact directly with project managers, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the project’s objectives and anticipated impact.Participation in the expo significantly enhanced the project’s visibility and fostered valuable connections with professionals, stakeholders, and the wider community.We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who visited the booth and expressed interest in the project.

XTRACT is a strong partner in the Cluster Hub Annual Meeting 2025
2025-11-20 13:30 - 18:00
On 20 November 2025, the Cluster Hub Annual Meeting brought together EU-funded projects advancing sustainable extraction, processing, and recycling of battery materials. This network is jointly shaping a strong, coordinated voice for Europe’s battery future. Collaboration makes an impact!

The project coordinator, Prof. Sabrina Hedrich (TUBAF), presented XTRACT. The presentation highlighted how XTRACT advances sustainable, efficient, and digitally enabled extraction and processing of raw materials, supporting Europe’s broader goals for a resilient and responsible battery value chain.

XTRACT’s participation also included involvement in a round-table discussion, bringing the project’s perspective into dialogue with industry representatives, researchers, and policymakers. The discussion reinforced the importance of collaboration across Europe to secure responsible access to critical raw materials and to accelerate the green transition.

The Cluster Hub Annual Meeting 2025 brought together more than 25 EU-funded projects and 150 participants from EU Member States, covering the entire battery raw materials value chain. Discussions focused on technological approaches validated through Horizon Europe projects, cross-sector dialogue, and challenges related to scaling, environmental performance, and social acceptance.The event was opened by Member of the European Parliament Oliver Schenk. In his speech, he addressed the need for strong collaboration among EU Member States in the context of the new Clean Industrial Deal. No Member State can develop a value chain alone; Europe must move faster through technology uptake, clear funding pathways, and common regulations..

In addition to the presentation, Dr Jana Pinka (GEOS) participated in the event, with promotional material distributed and bilateral discussions held, supporting networking activities and future collaboration within the Cluster Hub and beyond.A review article covering the Cluster Hub Annual Meeting is available here.

XTRACT project presents results on critical raw materials at the MedGU Conference 2025
2025-11-10 08:00 - 2025-11-12 18:00
The LNEG team presented some of the results obtained on the characterization and recovery of critical raw materials from the São Domingos mine.The presentation was made in the form of two oral communications at the 5th annual meeting of the Mediterranean Geosciences Union (MedGU), held in Athens, Greece, from 10–12 November 2025.The presentations were given by Igor Morais with a communication entitled “Distribution and economical potential source of Critical Raw Materials from abandoned VHMS mine of São Domingos, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal” and Teresa Pena da Silva with “Analysis of critical raw materials in products of the acid mine drainage from S. Domingos and Aljustrel areas, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal”.The activity is relevant to XTRACT São Domingos Mine (case study), highlighting the importance of mineral resources for the energy transition. The event addressed the scientific community and gathered approximately 500 attendees.

XTRACT Project Shines at European Researchers’ Night 2025
2025-09-26 17:00 - 23:00
On Friday, 26 September 2025, NTUA/AMDC, represented by Athanassios Mavrikos, joined the celebrations for the European Researchers’ Night at the National Technical University of Athens (Zografou Campus), presenting the XTRACT project.

The European Researchers’ Night brings research and researchers closer to the public, attracting over 1.5 million visitors across Europe each year. This year, in addition to the central celebration at the NTUA Library and Information Center square, visitors had the opportunity to explore characteristic laboratories from each NTUA School. The event aims to promote and highlight the work of researchers, demonstrating their importance to science and society. For one day each year, attendees can experience innovative research achievements from the Technical University, other universities and research centers in Attica, and school units, engaging in experimental demonstrations, computer simulations, educational activities, competitions, and more.

At the event, the XTRACT corner featured the project banner, the XTRACT video, and interactive discussions. Along with Acceligence support, more than 200 leaflets were shared, and the XTRACT roll-up was presented to visitors. Athanassios Mavrikos engaged attendees in conversations about the project’s objectives, the technologies under development, the role of European partners, and the progress made so far.

The XTRACT corner attracted significant interest from the general public, fellow researchers, academic staff, and visiting school groups, who were eager to learn more about the project’s innovative technologies and its contribution to sustainable mining practices.

XTRACT continues to engage with the public and scientific community, promoting research excellence and raising awareness of cutting-edge European mining technologies.More information about the European Researchers’ Night can be found on https://researchersnight.gr

XTRACT at the 4th International Conference on Responsible Consumption and Production
2025-09-23 08:00 - 2025-09-24 17:30
On 23–24 September 2025, the XTRACT project was represented at the 4th International Conference on Responsible Consumption and Production held in Chania, Crete, Greece. The conference brought together experts and researchers to discuss innovative solutions for sustainable practices and environmental management.A team from the XTRACT partner TUC delivered an oral presentation titled: “Phytoremediation of mining sites polluted with toxic metals using Lantana camara and Helianthus annuus plant species.” The presentation highlighted how specific plant species can help clean contaminated mining sites and contribute to more sustainable mining practices.For the full detailed programme of the conference, you may find it here.The event also offered opportunities for networking and bilateral discussions with key actors in the field. Notably, the team connected with researchers from Université de Lorraine to discuss potential implementation of XTRACT technologies in related studies.Participation in such events allows XTRACT to share its innovative solutions with the wider scientific community, engage with stakeholders, and explore collaborations to further advance sustainable mining practices in Europe.

XTRACT at the 2nd International Circular Economy Conference
2025-09-17 00:00 - 2025-09-19 23:59
The XTRACT project recently participated in the 2nd International Conference on Circular Economy: The Pathway Towards Sustainable Development, held in Chania, Greece, from 17–19 September 2025.

TUC researcher Eirini Athanasiadou, presented an oral talk on “Soil phytoremediation in abandoned mines: an experimental study in Greece for metal recovery”, showcasing innovative methods for cleaning and recovering metals from old mining sites. The presentation drew attention from researchers, industry experts, and officials.

The activity included networking and discussions with participants, generating questions on technology efficiency and its application in different locations. The conference had 140 overall attendees, providing a valuable platform to raise awareness of XTRACT’s work and strengthen connections with relevant actors in the field.

Stay updated on XTRACT’s activities and innovations at xtract-project.eu and follow the project on LinkedIn @xtract-project.

XTRACT Project Webinar: “Novel Phytoremediation Solution and Concurrent Metal Phytomining using Trees and Plants as Part of the Circular Economy”
2025-07-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Co-organised by TUC & LAMMC, supported by ACCELI.

Webinar Access Link

Experts will discuss innovative phytoremediation and phytomining strategies for the clean-up of polluted sites while simultaneously recover valuable metals and metalloids. This session focuses on exploring how trees and plants can accumulate metals and metalloids from polluted soils, following the basic principles of a circular economy model. The presentations include the potential of metal-accumulating trees and plants, showcasing sustainable strategies for environmental clean-up and resource recovery.

XTRACT at the 9th European Bioremediation Conference (EBC-IX 2025)
2025-06-15 17:00 - 2025-06-19 13:30
XTRACT was represented at the 9th European Bioremediation Conference (EBC-IX 2025), organised by the Technical University of Crete (TUC) and taking place from 15 to 19 June in Chania, Greece – a key European event on environmental remediation, welcoming over 350 participants.

During the session Phytoremediation (organics), Eirini Athanasiadou delivered an oral presentation titled: “𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗺𝘂𝘀”The presentation highlighted the use of hyperaccumulator plants to clean up heavy metal-contaminated soils while enabling the recovery of valuable metals through phytomining – supporting sustainable, nature-based remediation strategies.

The session generated insightful questions on the method’s efficiency, biomass production, and technology readiness.

Events like 𝗘𝗕𝗖-𝗜𝗫 are vital for knowledge exchange and raising awareness about sustainable, nature-based mining solutions.

XTRACT Project Presented at the 8th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management
2025-05-30 11:00 - 13:00
The Technical University of Crete (TUC) proudly represented the XTRACT Project at the 8th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management – CRETE 2025, held from 27 to 31 May 2025 in Chania, Greece.The thematic scope of CRETE 2025 is broad, covering a wide range of industrial and hazardous waste categories (e.g., hospital waste, batteries, plastics, textiles, mining by-products, etc.), as well as topics related to environmental management in general (e.g., climate change, risk assessment, waste and natural disasters, and more).

The conference brought together around 250 participants from across academia, industry, and the technology sector, providing a dynamic platform for the exchange of cutting-edge ideas and innovations. The XTRACT presentation attracted a focused audience of approximately 30 experts, creating an engaging opportunity for scientific exchange.

The session highlighted the phytoremediation potential of Lantana camara and Atriplex halimus in soils contaminated with zinc and cadmium—a nature-based, innovative approach supporting the restoration of polluted areas. The methodology sparked strong interest from participants, many of whom recognised its relevance for sustainable environmental remediation practices.

This research supports the XTRACT Project’s broader mission to develop circular, green solutions for abandoned mine site restoration, combining advanced technologies with ecological responsibility.

Special thanks go to Eirini Athanasiadou, Dr Alexandros Stefanakis, and the entire TUC team for their outstanding contribution to the conference and to the project.

🔁 Stay tuned as the XTRACT continues to demonstrate how nature and technology can work hand in hand to deliver sustainable impact.

XTRACT at "Managing Ecosystems for a Sustainable Tomorrow" Seminar
2024-12-13 10:00 - 15:00
On December 13, 2024, the XTRACT project participated in the “Managing Ecosystems for a Sustainable Tomorrow” seminar held in Girionys, Lithuania. This scientific seminar, organized by LAMMC (Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry), served as a platform for researchers and experts to discuss innovative approaches to ecological recovery and sustainable resource use.

Dr. Dorotėja Vaitiekūnaitė, representing XTRACT, shared groundbreaking insights into phytoremediation and phytomining technologies. These methods utilize the natural abilities of plants to recover metals from the soil while promoting environmental restoration.

Phytomining: An Eco-Friendly Solution for Resource Recovery

Phytomining involves using plants, including trees, to absorb metals from the soil. These plants are then harvested, and the biomass is processed to recover the accumulated metals. This process offers a host of environmental and economic benefits:

Sustainability: Reduces the demand for traditional mining activities by focusing on recovering metals from waste piles and abandoned sites.

Efficiency: Trees are particularly effective for large-scale recovery due to their metal accumulation capabilities and minimal environmental impact.

Circular Economy: Harvested plants can be used as biofuels, while the ash, rich in metals, undergoes processing for metal recovery. Residual ash is further repurposed to enrich soils, creating a sustainable cycle of reuse.

Dr. Vaitiekūnaitė emphasized the practical applications of these technologies, highlighting their relevance to environmental restoration, economic development, and societal well-being. The seminar also fostered international collaboration, with attendees from Lithuania and Switzerland engaging in discussions about these innovative solutions.

The XTRACT project remains committed to disseminating cutting-edge research and promoting sustainable resource recovery methods.

XTRACT Presentation at CERESiS Project Final Event
2024-04-23 00:00 - 23:59
XTRACT was recently presented at the final event of the CERESiS Project, marking a significant milestone in liaison activities. Hosted in Thessaloniki, Greece, on April 23, 2024, the event attracted representatives from 8 countries, including academics, industry partners, and stakeholders. The main focus of this workshop was to explore the use of phytoremediation in cleaning contaminated land and producing biofuels from plant biomass.

During the presentation, attendees showed considerable interest in XTRACT, particularly regarding its phytoremediation activities in Lavrion Technological Cultural Park. Discussions centered around potential collaborations and synergies, paving the way for future partnerships.

Read more about the event here.

XTRACT at 1st Automation, Robotics & Drones Expo
2024-04-12 10:00 - 2024-04-14 19:00 | https://www.metropolitanexpo.gr/en, Athens, Greece
Delighted to share the success of the XTRACT Project’s presence at the 1st Automation & Robotics Expo 2024 held in Athens, Greece from April 12-14, 2024.

Presented by Acceligence Ltd. , XTRACT made a significant impact, showcasing innovative endeavors in sustainable extraction methods. Our participation featured the project roll-up banner and leaflet distribution, engaging industry professionals and attendees.

A sincere thank you to all who visited Acceligence Ltd. booth!

XTRACT at Almodôvar School Open Science Day
2024-04-11 09:00 - 14:00
We are delighted to share the success of the project’s participation in the Almodôvar School Group III Open Day, held at the Dr. João de Brito Camacho Secondary School on April 11th.

LNEG played a pivotal role in showcasing the innovative efforts of the XTRACT project during this event. As part of the institution’s strategy to disseminate geosciences, particularly the significance of geological mapping for understanding national resources, LNEG engaged with attendees to highlight the project’s mission and achievements.

Practical activities focused on emphasizing the crucial role of mineral resources in the decarbonisation of the economy. These activities underscored the core objectives of XTRACT, which aims to establish a sustainable ecosystem for innovative resource recovery and complex ore extraction.Read more here.

XTRACT Spotlighted at Green Horizon Summit 2024
2024-03-13 00:00 - 23:59
XTRACT was a highlight of the recent Green Horizon Summit 2024, which took place at the Vilnius Town Hall in Lithuania on the 13th of March, 2024.In a significant presentation, the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC), took to the stage to offer insights into how initiatives such as XTRACT are influencing the future of sustainability. The summit, organised by AgriFood Lithuania and the Research Council of Lithuania in collaboration with key partners, focused on the pivotal role of Horizon Europe initiatives in driving the bioeconomy forward.A public discussion amongst experts provided a forum to explore the potential of Horizon Europe, heralding new opportunities for international projects within the bioeconomy sphere.For insights click here.

Follow for updates on the progress towards a sustainable future.
