Andressa Mazur

Studying how crystals are formed in multicomponent solutions can help us recycle batteries better!

🔋Recycling Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs) is a topic of interest in science and technology due to the increase in electric cars as an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. The batteries used in these cars and other electronics are a source of pollution and heavy metal contamination in the environment if not disposed of properly. In addition, the production of batterie's raw materials happens through mining, an activity known for its significant environmental and social impact, allied to limited resources that may not meet future demands.

♻️Recycling LIBs reduces the environmental impact of these products. However, the current process is laborious and expensive to recover high-purity substances, which are then used to manufacture new battery precursors, which consist of the mixture and reprecipitation of a mixed compound. Little attention has been given to the recovery of materials from the recycling process for direct application as precursors for cathode material, minimizing cost and intensifying the circularity of battery production.

🔬In my research, I study how crystals are formed in multicomponent solutions, specifically the simultaneous recovery of target metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese and how these ions interact in the crystallization process. My methods include thermodynamic simulations, bench-scale experimental work, and microfluidic devices to observe crystals' precipitation and growth under a microscope. Understanding this process can help us recycle batteries better and reduce the impact on the environment.

📙 A little bit about me: I am Andressa Mazur, 26, and a Latin woman in STEM. I joined the KTH Chemical Engineering PhD program in 2022, in the Resource Recovery division, working under Dr. Fred Penha's supervision. My research interests include novel crystallization techniques and approaches, microfluidics systems, recovery of critical raw materials, and wastewater/effluent treatment.

📘I pursued my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering at the Technological Federal University of Parana - UTFPR in Brazil, and my master's degree in Chemical Engineering at the Bragança Polytechnic Institute in Portugal. My master's thesis is entitled "Characterization and Primary Treatment of the Effluent of Olive Pomace Oil Extractor Industry".

📗Parallel to my PhD I dedicate part of my time to work as the Head of the WOP Network and Communication Manager for the PhD Chapter board in 2024 and co-founder of PhD IMPACT, an initiative to spread Inclusive Measures Promoting Understanding, Learning, and Support for Equality inside PhD community around KTH. In my free time, I like to bike around the city and do crafts!

📧 Feel free to contact me by e-mail at   or LinkedIn!

🌈 My pronouns are she/her, ella/della, ela/dela.