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Raw materials, such as metals and minerals, that are not only part of our daily lives butalso of decisive economic importance, while having a high supply risk, are called criticalraw materials. The criticality of the raw materials implies that they are vital to thefunctioning and integrity of a wide range of industrial ecosystems. For example, galliumand indium are part of light-emitting diode (LED) technology in lamps1. Vanadium is notonly a vital part of performance enhancement of certain ferrous alloys but also ofemerging scientific interest as V-redox batteries can be an alternative for lithium-ionbatteries for storage of renewable energy2,3. Vanadium, like other critical raw materialshas an immense economic value to the EU, combined with a high risk associated with itssupply4. During the reduction of V2O5 with aluminum, fluxed with lime5, a residue of theferrovanadium production process is generated containing large amount of calciumaluminates and magnesia alumina spinel (MgAl2O4) together with smaller amount ofmagnesia. Different paths of vanadium recovery from industrial residues have beenestablished6–8, with some of those9 leaving the matrix intact after extraction. However,in the current research a direct valorisation approach was adopted for the V-bearingresidues. Alumina-spinel castables are the state of the art for some parts of the steelladle lining10. The V-bearing residues that were studied contain significant amounts ofalumina (mainly bound to calcium aluminate phases) and spinel. Thus, they can be partof alumina-spinel self-flow castables’ matrix substituting totally or, in large proportionsthe traditionally used calcium aluminate cement (CAC). (PDF) Valorisation potential of V-bearing residues. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351153984_Valorisation_potential_of_V-bearing_residues#fullTextFileContent [accessed Jun 30 2023].

International journal of ceramic engineering & science 4(1), 16-22 (2022). doi:10.1002/ces2.10111 special issue: "Refractories and UNITECR 2022", Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ

Journal of CO2 utilization 58, 101928 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.jcou.2022.101928, Published by Elsevier, Amsterdam [u.a.]

International journal of ceramic engineering & science 3(6), (2021). doi:10.1002/ces2.10110, Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ

International journal of ceramic engineering & science (2022). doi:10.1002/ces2.10129, Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ

This study aimed to join the proven osteogenic properties of graphene oxide (GO) with bioinert zirconia implants. The dip-coating technique allows achieving this goal by forming a thin, homogenous, hydrolytically, and mechanically stable GO film onto silanized ceramic-substrates. SEM, AFM, XPS, and contact angle measurements confirmed the presence, transparency, integrity, and homogenous covering character of the GO film. The GO film is hydrolytically stable since it remained intact after a soaking period of 24 days in double-distilled water (ddH2O) and phosphate buffered saline and resisted a ten-minute sonication treatment for in ddH2O. This strong hydrolytic stability is due to the silanization with 3-amino-propyl-diisopropylethoxy-silane (APDS) enhancing the anchoring of GO flakes onto zirconia surfaces. Besides, the GO film disinfectable in 70% ethanol. Subsequently, we assessed our immobilized GO film as cytocompatible for L929 mouse fibroblast and human mesenchymal stem cells and propitious for the osteogenic differentiation demonstrated by a two times upregulation of the osteogenic transcription factor RunX2. The active hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the GO film open new perspectives for the functionalization of ceramic implants by immobilization of biological agents, such as growth factors or antibiotics, and thus enhance the osseointegration.