nir-vana innovation network

The researchers come from a Slovenian public research organization. The authors have years of experience in the synthesis of new materials. Their research extends from the synthesis of new materials to fundamental investigations of elementary excitations, self-organising behaviour and adaptive functionality in complex systems.

The subject of this technology offer is a method for synthesis of metal molybdates and metal tungstates from molybdenum and tungsten carbides and nitrides. The conversion is done in the presence of a water solution of metal-containing reactive compounds. The main advantage of this process is that the conversion takes place at low temperatures while currently, most syntheses of molybdates and tungstates require high temperatures and sharp reaction conditions, such as solid reactions.

Metal molybdates and tungstates are used in several areas, for example, catalysis, moisture sensors, for scintillation detectors, optical fibres and solid-state lasers, etc. The very exposed use case is the removal of lead from drinking water.

To commercialize the technology further development is needed. The offered method is at the proof of concept level. Raw materials processing and final product need to be developed for the demonstration.

Industrial companies involved in the production of molybdates and tungstates are sought for the development of this technology to a large scale production level via the technical cooperation agreement. The technology described is a replacement to the existing processes with a simpler and less expensive solution

The method is also offered for licencing (through licencing agreements) to companies in the field of inorganic chemistry and chemistry of transition metals. This can include cooperation for further development to a production level.

Advantages & innovations

The main advantage and innovation of this method is in that it allows the synthesis of large amounts of metal molybdates and tungstates • at low temperature, and • using reactive compounds dissolved in water.

Stage of development

Under development/lab tested

Partner sought

Industrial partners are sought in the field of inorganic chemistry and chemistry of transition metals. The partners are sought for: • licencing agreements to the patented method to partners who would like to manufacture the offered technology. • technical cooperation is offered for the development of the technology to a large-scale production level.