Sami Virolainen

Sami Virolainen is a Research Professor and Head of the Department of Separation Technology at LUT University's School of Engineering Sciences. His work focuses on hydrometallurgy, particularly in metal separation processes critical for the green transition and resource recovery.

• Education: LUT University (Chemical Engineering diploma, PhD in 2009)

Research interests span separation technology for battery material recycling, rare earth element recovery, and applications in water purification, biorefinery, and Power-to-X technology. His department investigates resource-efficient methods for critical metals like cobalt, nickel, and lithium.

Recent publications emphasize sustainable metallurgy, including solvent extraction, ion exchange, and nanofiltration techniques for battery waste and industrial byproducts. Key areas include multi-metal recovery, acid recycling, and rare earth purification.

Virolainen leads cross-disciplinary collaborations under LUT's SCI-MAT platform, integrating separation science with economics and sustainability. He advocates for European self-sufficiency in critical metals while acknowledging market-driven challenges.

Based in Lappeenranta, he has spent over two decades at LUT University, starting as a chemical engineering student in 2001. His department operates across LUT's geographical locations, including Lappeenranta, Lahti, Mikkeli, and Kouvolan campuses.

Outside academia, Virolainen is connected to regional sports culture as a lifelong supporter of Finnish hockey teams like Mikkelin Jukurit and SaiPa, and currently involved with youth basketball through Catz Lappeenranta.