CITAC Best Paper Award for Groundbreaking Research in Chemical Metrology / 20.03.2025

We are pleased to share that a team of distinguished researchers has received the prestigious CITAC Best Paper Award, which highlights exceptional contributions to chemical metrology. Among the co-authors of the awarded paper is Dr. Radojko Jaćimović, who collaborated with an international team on this significant research published in the past year in the frame of 20IND01 MetroCycleEU project.

The award-winning paper, titled "Development and application of reference and routine analytical methods providing SI-traceable results for the determination of technology-critical elements in PCB from WEEE", was published in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (Vol. 39, 2024, pp. 2809-2823). The research addresses the critical need for accurate measurement methods of technology-critical elements (TCEs) in printed circuit boards (PCBs) derived from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). These elements are essential for advanced technologies, and their sustainable management is vital for Europe's circular economy agenda.

This research was conducted under the framework of the MetroCycleEU project, which aims to develop new methods for TCE measurements in urban mine waste and other environmentally relevant matrices. The project's goal is to provide industry and authorities with a robust framework for the sustainable usage of these elements, supporting decision-making in waste management, pollution control, and environmental protection.

The results obtained in this study were made possible thanks to the contributions of experts with high metrological expertise, coordinated under the MetroCycleEU project by Dr. Johanna Noireaux. Among the esteemed co-authors of this significant work is Dr. Radojko Jaćimović, who collaborated with an international team of researchers, including Giancarlo D'Agostino, Marcus Oelze, Jochen Vogl, Jean-Philippe Ghestem, Nicolas Lafaurie, Ole Klein, Daniel Pröfrock, Marco Di Luzio, Luigi Bergamaschi, Caroline Oster, Johanna Irrgeher, Shaun T. Lancaster, Anna Walch, Anita Röthke, Lena Michaliszyn, Axel Pramann, Olaf Rienitz, Timo Sara-Aho, Oktay Cankur, and Derya Kutan.

The CITAC Best Paper Award not only includes a certificate for all co-authors but also invites them to deliver an award lecture. This lecture is scheduled for June 17, 2025, from 13:00 to 15:00 CET, and will be held online. During this event, the team will present their groundbreaking research and discuss its implications for the field of chemical metrology and environmental sustainability.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the entire research team for this remarkable achievement.