Metal recovery

WEEE Booming for sustainable recycling 2016 Waste Management

Ata Akcil

The increasing production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has led to the rapid growth of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which significantly contributes to municipal solid waste and raises environmental concerns due to its hazardous components. This editorial discusses the critical importance of recycling metals from WEEE, especially as primary resources become deple

Waste-on-Waste Roasting of Copper Slag with Flotation Tailings for Selective Recovery of Cu, Ni, and Co

Bobur Gayratov, Bekhzod Gayratov

Copper smelter slag represents a significant secondary resource of critical metals, while flotation tailings serve as an abundant sulfur-bearing waste stream. This study investigated a waste-on-waste sulfation roasting approach for the selective recovery of Cu, Ni, and Co from fayalite copper smelter slag using flotation tailings as an in situ sulfur source and sodium metabisulfite (SMBS, Na2S2O5)

Summary of Pretreatment of Waste Lithium-Ion Batteries and Recycling of Valuable Metal Materials: A Review

Linye Li, Yuzhang Li

The recycling of used lithium-ion batteries has become a growing concern. As a large number of rare metal elements are present in waste lithium-ion batteries, recycling them can significantly improve resource utilization and reduce the material cost of battery production. The process of recycling used lithium-ion batteries involves three main technology parts: pretreatment, material recovery, and

An Overview of the Sustainable Recycling Processes Used for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Daniele Marchese, Chiara Giosuè

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can play a crucial role in the decarbonization process that is being tackled worldwide; millions of electric vehicles are already provided with or are directly powered by LIBs, and a large number of them will flood the markets within the next 8–10 years. Proper disposal strategies are required, and sustainable and environmental impacts need to be addressed. This paper

Towards Sustainable Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Advancements in Circular Hydrometallurgy

Maria del Mar Cerrillo-Gonzalez, Maria Villen-Guzman

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has led to significant environmental and resource challenges, such as the toxicity of LIBs’ waste, which pose severe environmental and health risks, and the criticality of some of their components. Efficient recycling processes are essential to mitigate these issues, promoting the recovery of valuable materials and reducing environmental pollutio

ILUNGA KAMWANYA MEMEOIRE

Kandji, R.

La présente étude porte sur la valorisation des rejets des Usines à Cuivre de Kolwezi par séparation magnétique comme prétraitement avant la lixiviation. L'objectif principal était d'évaluer l'intérêt de la séparation magnétique pour mieux répartir les métaux contenus dans les rejets, en particulier le cuivre et le zinc, afin d'améliorer leur valorisation tout en réduisant les coûts de traitement.

Enrichment Methods for Metal Recovery from Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment: A Brief Review

Ernesto Chicardi, Antonio Lopez-Paneque

The growing global demand for minerals and metals, coupled with fluctuations in pricing and market disruptions, has emphasised the critical role of these resources in sustaining the global economy. Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has emerged as a promising source of raw materials, particularly for metal recycling and the valorisation of plastic fractions. In 2022, approximate

Recovery of Valuable Metals by Roasting of Jarosite inCement Kiln

Hui Ge, Zhigang Pan

The jarosite residue is a harmful byproduct of the zinc hydrometallurgical process and has been classified as hazardous waste due to its high content of heavy metals and poor stability. In this work, the recovery of valuable metals by synergistic disposal of jarosite residue with cement kiln has been investigated. A series of investigations were undertaken to assess the effect of amount of jarosit

Comprehensive Study on the Mechanism of Sulfating Roasting of Zinc Plant Residue with Iron Sulfates

Pavel Grudinsky, Denis Pankratov

Zinc plant residue (ZPR) is a secondary material generated during hydrometallurgical zinc production that contains considerable contents of valuable elements such as Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ag, In, Ga, Tl. Zinc, copper and accompanying elements in ZPR are in different minerals, mainly in the ferrites. A promising approach for recycling ZPR is the sulfating roasting using iron sulfates followed by wate

Historical Lead Smelting Slag Harmlessness and Valuable Metals Recovery: A Co-Treatment of Lead Slag and Zinc-Bearing Material in Rotary Kiln

Xuekui Niu, Minting Li

The harmless treatment of historical lead smelting slag (LSS) is of significance to ecological and environmental protection, but it is still challenging in terms of the economic feasibility of alone processing due to the low content of valuable metals. Here, we performed an industrialized test with a co-treatment of LSS and zinc oxide ore in a rotary kiln to evaluate the economic feasibility and s

Eco-Friendly Electrowinning for Metals Recovery from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Henrikas Cesiulis, Natalia Tsyntsaru

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been intensely increasing over the recent decades. In this view, the efficient recovery of metals from WEEE will allow a secure supply of raw materials and will contribute to a circular economy. Among many factors currently affecting the contribution of recycling is the lack of suitable technologies for WEEE treatment in an environ

Valuable Metals Recovery by Mineral Processing and Hydrometallurgy

Marinela Ivanova Panayotova, Vladko Panayotov

This special issue focuses on the recovery of valuable metals through advanced methods in mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. The objective is to highlight innovative techniques and approaches for improving the efficiency and sustainability of metal recovery processes. The methodology employed includes a review of current practices and research developments in the area, as well as discussions

ION EXCHANGE FOR IRON IMPURITY CONTROL IN THE BASE METAL INDUSTRY

R. Shaw, S. Vance

The mining industry has generally been slow to apply ion exchange processes to hydrometallurgical applications even if ion exchange offers an ideal solution for a particular problem. Two notable exceptions are in gold and uranium recovery. The largest application of ion exchange in the metals processing industry has been the use of resin-in-pulp (RIP) for gold recovery as an alternative to activat

Continuous Ion Exchange

R. McNeill, E. A. Swinton

In recent years, the application of synthetic ion exchange resins has gained traction across various industries beyond water treatment. This study aims to develop a continuous countercurrent exchange process, addressing the complexities that arise from alterations in operating conditions. Employing theoretical stage theory and an innovative graphical method, the research simplifies predictability

Ion Exchange in Hydrometallurgy

M Streat

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the ion exchange (IX) technology and its historical significance in hydrometallurgy. It explores the evolution of IX applications, beginning from its ancient references to its modern synthetic resin forms used in metal recovery processes. The objective is to illustrate the diversity and effectiveness of IX in extracting valuable metals, including ura

Solvent Extraction Methods in Metal Recovery

A M Pavilcius, M A Latko

This document outlines various solvent extraction methods used to recover metals from aqueous ore leach solutions. The objective was to improve the efficiency and yield of metal recovery processes, specifically focusing on uranium, copper, nickel, and cobalt. The methodology involves treating emulsions formed during extraction with specific reagents, such as water-soluble acrylamide copolymers and

Comparative Accepted Systems for Countercurrent Ion Exchange

Brian P. Canning

The mining industry is witnessing a resurgence in interest regarding ion exchange resin processes for the recovery of metals from solution, particularly uranium. This study aims to evaluate comparative accepted systems for countercurrent ion exchange (CCIX), emphasizing their cost-effectiveness over traditional fixed bed contactor processes. A thorough examination of the CCIX systems, specifically

RECOFLOB ION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY

Michael Sheedy

RecofloB ion exchange technology utilizes fine mesh resin beads, a fully packed resin bed, and counter-current regeneration to enhance exchange kinetics while minimizing regenerant consumption and maximizing the concentration of strip solutions. This innovative technology has found extensive commercial application, particularly in areas such as the separation of strong mineral acids from metal sal

2026 Weiss Fayalitic Slags Part II

Joao Weiss, Daniel Munchen

The interaction between fayalitic slags and nonferrous metals during smelting presents a multifaceted challenge that necessitates comprehensive investigation to enhance metallurgical processes toward the recovery of valuable metals. This study builds on the literature review of the composition and mineralogy of fayalitic slags (Part I), examining the effect of these composition on thermodynamic an

2026 Lucas EnAM Pyrometallurgical NMC Battery Recycling TBRC

Hugo Lucas, Fabian Diaz

Pyrometallurgical recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries enables efficient recovery of cobalt, nickel and copper, while lithium predominantly reports to the slag phase. Valorizing lithium-rich slags remains a key challenge, with limited pilot-scale data available on mass flows, energy demand and emissions. This study presents pilot-scale trials in a 300 L Top Blown Rotary Converter (TBRC), treat

Recovery of valuable metals from copper slags as secondary resources: Selected laboratory-scale case studies

Fatma Arslan, Gülay Bulut, Cüneyt Arslan

Pyrometallurgical extraction of metallic copper from copper concentrates generates several by-products, among which copper slag constitutes one of the most voluminous solid residues. These slags are generally composed of iron oxides, silica, calcium oxide, alumina, and varying amounts of unrecovered copper. Despite their common disposal by stockpiling or use as landfill material, copper slags may

2026 Zeng Alkaline Leaching of Spent SCR Catalysts

Fei Zeng, Jo Van Caneghem

Recycling of vanadium (V) and tungsten (W) from spent WO3-V2O5/TiO2 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts is critical for resource circularity and environmental protection. This study investigates the application of mechanochemical processing (MCP) to enhance the alkaline leaching, comparing (i) mechanochemical activation (ACT; milling before leaching) and (ii) mechanochemical leaching (MC

2026 Taner Mn Zn Leaching from Spent Batteries

Hasan Ali Taner, Ali Aras

Zinc-carbon batteries are non-rechargeable and preferred due to their low cost. Since spent batteries contain various heavy metals, they cause environmental pollution if disposed of improperly. It has great importance to recover metals from spent batteries in order to use natural resources consciously and to prevent environmental pollution. Spent Zn-C batteries used in this study were manually dis

2026 Lee High Pulp Density Battery Bioleaching

Jeseung Lee, Seonjong Yun

Bioleaching is regarded as an environmentally sustainable process for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, at high pulp densities, its application becomes challenging due to reduced microbial activity caused by the toxic metal components in the LIB black mass. Accordingly, the applicability of bioleaching under high pulp density conditions requires systematic evaluation. In this

Atmospheric leaching of Ni Co Cu and Zn from sulfide t 2024 Minerals Engi

Anssi Karppinen, Sipi Seisko

The growing demand for nickel and cobalt increases the interest in extracting metals from secondary sources, such as flotation tailings. A preferential strategy for the processing of the complex and/or low-grade secondary sources may be material integration into existing primary processes. In this research, a robust sulfuric acid leaching treatment was studied for metal extraction from sulfidic fl

2025 Mazur Critical Metals Fractional Precipitation

Andressa Mazur, Frederico Marques Penha

This study explores fractional and simultaneous precipitation methods to recover metals from a synthetic solution containing the major components from lithium-ion battery recycling leachates: Co, Ni, Mn, Li, and H2SO4. Thermodynamic simulations analyzed the behavior of the metal-bearing solutions during hydroxide precipitation to guide process design. The fractional precipitation process was divid

2026 Soares Fungal Bioleaching for Metal Recovery

Angélica Ribeiro Soares, Xinran Xu, Marcela dos Passos Galluzzi Baltazar, Wen-Bing Yin

Fungal bioleaching, as a green and sustainable technology for metal recovery, demonstrates unique advantages in addressing growing global metal demand and utilizing secondary resources. This review systematically summarizes recent progress and technological advances in fungal bioleaching for metal recovery. Fungi solubilize metals through three core mechanisms, acidolysis, complexolysis, and redox

Fungal Bioleaching for Metal Recovery: Recent Progress and Technological Advances

Angélica Ribeiro Soares, Xinran Xu

Fungal bioleaching, as a green and sustainable technology for metal recovery, demonstrates unique advantages in addressing growing global metal demand and utilizing secondary resources. This review systematically summarizes recent progress and technological advances in fungal bioleaching for metal recovery. Fungi solubilize metals through three core mechanisms, acidolysis, complexolysis, and redox

2026 Halder Life cycle assessment of PCB bioleaching

Banhi Halder, Ragini Dutta

2024 Attah Kyei Pyrometallurgical Reduction Copper Slag Biochar

Desmond Attah‑Kyei, Dmitry Sukhomlinov

Large amounts of slag are generated during pyrometallurgical processing in copper production. Due to the presence of valuable elements, the improper disposal of huge quantities of copper slag produced results in significant loss of resources as well as environmental issues. Analyses of the copper slag show that it contains valuable metals, particularly copper and nickel. In this work, four biochar

2026 Pop Critical Metal Recovery from Waste PCBs

Lucian-Cristian Pop, Szabolcs Szima

It is undeniable that rapid population increase coupled with growing resource constraints are making the demand for smart and sustainable solutions more urgent than ever to secure future resources for the transition to sustainable energy production. To address these issues, it is necessary to define innovative approaches that can exploit more efficiently and extensively the resources we have at ou

2026 Chen Bioleaching critical metals from spent lithium ion batteries

Qi Chen, Yanling Gu

In recent years, owing to the extensive application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in large-scale energy storage, transportation systems, and portable electronics, the LIB market has expanded rapidly. Proper recycling of spent LIBs can significantly alleviate environmental and economic burdens. Bioleaching, as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for metal recovery from primary

2026 Alajoki Cu Ni Zn Leaching Flash Smelting Dust

Julia Alajoki, Juho Halonen

Global demand for metals is rising, making industrial side streams a promising feedstock for metals recovery. In the current study, leaching behavior of Cu, Ni, and Zn from Cu flash smelting dust (Cu-FSF) along with impurities (Fe, As, Bi, and Pb) was studied in the absence and presence of Ni flash smelting dust (Ni-FSF). Also, the use of impure lixiviants including waste acids (purified and gas s

Environmental Impacts of Recovering Li, Co, and Mn from Li-Ion Batteries via Hydrometallurgical Sulfuric Acid Processing

Ricardo Magdalena, Jose-Luis Palacios

The global demand for metals has experienced a critical increase in recent decades, and this trend is anticipated to persist in the coming years. Notably, the electric and electronic devices (EEE) sector and the electric vehicle industry are emerging as significant contributors to this heightened demand. Within these domains, the key player in terms of metal consumption is the battery, with Lithiu

2026 Soylu Microwave Volatile Metal Recovery

EDZHE SOYLU, GABRIELLA TRANELL

This study evaluates the thermal behavior, dielectric properties, and metal volatilization potential of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash (FA) and air pollution control (APC) residues under microwave heating. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), combined with mass spectrometry (MS), and dielectric property measurements were employed to examine decomposition mechanisms and microwave ab

2026 Talianova Oxalic Acid Leaching of Battery Black Mass

Kristina Talianova, Martina Laubertová

In this work, a method for leaching black mass from spent Li batteries using oxalic acid was developed and experimentally verified with the objective of selectively separating lithium and cobalt. Oxalic acid proved to be an efficient and selective leaching agent. Under 1 M C2H2O4, 120 min, L:S = 20, 80 ◦C and 300 rpm, a lithium yield of 90% was achieved, while cobalt dissolution remained low at 1.

2026 Zhai Reduction Roasting and Selective Battery Leaching

Ruijiao Zhai, Kui Huang

Amid growing environmental pressure and increasing demand for resource sustainability, the efficient recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has become a critical challenge in the field of resource recycling. Therefore, a novel approach is presented for selective lithium (Li) and manganese (Mn) separation from LiNi xCoyMn1−x−yO2 by combining carbothermic reduction roast

Proof-of-concept flowsheet for lithium-ion battery cathode material dissolution and metal recovery through solvometallurgical methods

Richard I. Foster, Sungyeol Choi

As global society moves away from conventional fossil-based energy sources and towards greater electrification, the amount of waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) generated is only going to increase. This waste needs effective management and treatment to ensure that, at the very least, environmental damage and safety concerns can be minimized. Beyond this, ensuring that the critical materials can be

Optimisation of Metal Recovery From Metallurgical Residues Through Carbothermal Reduction: Experimental and Thermodynamic investigation

Anna Krammer, Klaus Doschek-Held

The de-fossilisation of industrial processes, particularly in the steel and cement sectors, accelerates structural changes in material flows. In Austria, the transition from blast furnaces to electric arc furnace steel production will significantly affect the availability and composition of industrial by-products, which are currently used to reduce the clinker factor in the cement industry. This s

Process optimization of hydrothermal leaching of LiFePO4 c 2027 The Journal

Zixian Li, Qingxin Zheng

In this study, hydrothermal leaching of LiFePO4 (LFPO) cathode materials with citric acid was conducted with the purpose of achieving high leaching efficiencies of Li, Fe, and P at high pulp densities within 10 min. As two most critical parameters, the temperature and acid concentration were mainly optimized. The results indicate that conditions of 100 ◦C with 2 mol/L citric acid and 180 ◦C with 4

New EAF Slag Characterization Methodology for Strategic Metal Recovery

Nour-Eddine Menad, Nassima Kana

The grown demand of current and future development of new technologies for high added value and strategic metals, such as molybdenum, vanadium, and chromium, and facing to the depletion of basic primary resources of these metals, the metal extraction and recovery from industrial by-products and wastes is a promising choice. Slag from the steelmaking sector contains a significant amount of metals;

Recovery of metallic gold, silver and copper from end‑of‑life mobile phones by hydrometallurgy

Massimiliana Pietrantonio, Stefano Pucciarmati

The global amount of end-of-life mobile phones is increasing over the years and their proper valorization is nowadays of strategic importance. Mobile phones can be considered as an important source of valuable materials, such as metals, plastics, and glass, which can be recovered and reintroduced into new production cycles. In this paper, a recovery process based on selective materials’ separation

Conceptual Process Design and LCA Evaluation of Precious Metals Recovery from Waste PCBs

Song Wen He, Felipe Alejandro Garcia Paz

The present study explores the development and evaluation of precious metals (PM) recovery processes designed to extract silver (Ag), gold (Au), and palladium (Pd) from copper anode slimes (CAS) generated via the black copper route from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs). Two conceptual process flowsheets—Route 1 (conventional) and Route 2 (polar aprotic solvent)—were designed and simulated adopt

Resource Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash via Sulfuric Acid Digestion: Extraction of Zn and Cu with Calcium Sulfate Production

Edzhe Soylu, Elif Emil‑Kaya

The sustainable management of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash (FA) and air pollution control (APC) residues remains challenging due to their hazardous nature and underutilized valuable metal content. This study evaluates sulfuric acid digestion for selective metal extraction method that minimizes calcium dissolution, supporting ash valorization. The process parameters (temperatur

2024 Sari Ultrasound assisted leaching of zinc plant residue

Zeynel Abidin Sarı

Zinc plant residue (ZPR) contains significant amounts of valuable metal (Zn, Pb, Ag, etc.) compounds, as well as various heavy metals and harmful compounds that pollute the environment. Processing such residues allows for the recovery and reuse of valuable metals, which is crucial for sustainable resource management. This study investigated a two-stage leaching process of Zn, Pb, and Ag recovery f

Implementation of Solvometallurgical Processing in the Recovery of Valuable Metals from a Sulfide Ore

Lusa Lwa Vidie Kishiko, Willie Nheta

It has been demonstrated that the traditional hydrometallurgical method is still economically viable in several industrial applications such as Bayer, Boix, Platsol, Sherrit-Gordon, and so on. The conventional extraction technique of valuable metals from their ores using an aqua medium has several challenges. The following can be listed for the illustration of this: (1) Inorganic acids used during

Metal Recovery from Discarded Lithium-Ion Batteries by Bioleaching Coupled with Minimal Mechanical Pre-Treatment

Lidia Garcia, Joan Morell

The rising demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), driven by the growing consumption of electronic devices and the expansion of electric vehicles, is leading to a concerning depletion of primary metal resources and a significant accumulation of electronic waste. This urgent challenge highlights the need for sustainable recovery methods to extract valuable metals from spent LIBs, aligning with cir

2024 Ketegenov Ultrasound DES leaching of spent lithium batteries

Tlek Ketegenov, Kaster Kamunur

This study investigates the ultrasound-assisted leaching of Li and Co from spent batteries using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of polyethylene glycol and thiourea. The synergistic effect of ultrasound and DESs was explored to enhance the efficiency of Li and Co recovery. The experimental results demonstrated that ultrasound significantly accelerates the leaching process, achieving up to f

2020 Terrones Saeta Ambient acid leaching of copper waste

Juan María Terrones-Saeta, Jorge Suárez-Macías

Mining activity produces a series of wastes that must be treated to avoid environmental pollution. In addition, some of these mining wastes still contain metallic elements that are interesting for their extraction with new less expensive techniques and that can work with low mineral grades, such as hydrometallurgy. This study evaluates the suitability of Copper recovery in mining wastes, coming fr

2018 Mohanty Selective leaching of copper rich side stream

Udit Surya Mohanty, Lotta Rintala

Pyrometallurgical metal production results in side streams, such as dusts and slags, which are carriers of metals, though commonly containing lower metal concentrations compared to the main process stream. In order to improve the circular economy of metals, selective leaching of copper from an intermediate raw material originating from primary base metal production plant was investigated. The raw

2018 Chen Hydrometallurgical recovery from NMC cathodes

Wei-Sheng Chen, Hsing-Jung Ho

The paper focuses on the improved process of metal recovery from lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathode waste materials by using hydrometallurgical methods. In the acid leaching step, the essential effects of acidity concentration, H2O2 concentration, leaching time, liquid-solid mass ratio, and reaction temperature with the leaching percentage were investi

2018 Kamberovic Selective metals recovery from waste PCBs

Željko Kamberović, Milisav Ranitović

This paper presents an experimentally-proved hydrometallurgical process for selective metals recovery from the waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) using a combination of conventional and time-saving methods: leaching, cementation, precipitation, reduction and electrowinning. According to the results obtained in the laboratory tests, 92.4% Cu, 98.5% Pb, 96.8% Ag and over 99% Au could be selectivel

Copper Recovery from Polluted Soils Using Acidic Washing and Bioelectrochemical Systems

Karin Karlfeldt Fedje, Oskar Modin

Excavation followed by landfilling is the most common method for treating soils contaminated by metals. However, as this solution is not sustainable, alternative techniques are required. Chemical soil washing is one such alternative. The aim of this experimental lab-scale study is to develop a remediation and metal recovery method for Cu contaminated sites. The method is based on the washing of so

2020 Chae Hydrochloric Acid Leaching Behaviors of Copper and Antimony in Speiss Obtained

Sujin Chae, Kyoungkeun Yoo

Copper (Cu) has been recovered from speiss generated from top submerged lance furnace process; however, the leaching efficiency of Cu in sulfuric acid solution has been reported to decrease with increasing antimony (Sb) content in the speiss. This study investigates the hydrochloric acid leaching behaviors of copper and antimony, utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X

2020 Kinnunen Efficiency of Chemical and Biological Leaching of Copper Slag for the Recovery of

Päivi Kinnunen, Jarno Mäkinen

Copper slags produced in vast quantities in smelting operations could be considered as secondary material sources instead of stockpiling them in landfills. This study investigates the recovery of valuable metals from copper slag and the valorisation of the leach residue as construction material in line with the principles of a circular economy. By taking into account that the environmental charact

2026 Laubertova Copper shaft furnace dust leaching with DES

Martina Laubertová, Michaela Ružiˇ cková

This study investigates the hydrometallurgical recovery of valuable metals from copper shaft furnace dust (SFD), a complex industrial waste containing approximately 40 wt.% Zn, 16 wt.% Pb, and 1 wt.% Cu. In contrast to conventional inorganic leaching processes that rely on aggressive acids and bases, this research explores the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as eco-friendly and selective lixi

2026 Sim Selective cobalt and nickel recovery from LIBs

Eon-Seok Sim, Seok-Young Oh

The growing adoption of electric vehicles is expected to result in a significant increase in the volume of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), highlighting the need for efficient and environmentally sustainable recycling methods. This study presents an optimized process for recovering critical metals—cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium—from spent LIBs. The method involves roasting followed by l

2026 Rakhmataliev Hydrazine assisted reductive leaching of zinc cake

Shohruh Ashur Ugli Rakhmataliev, Shokhrukh Toshpulatovich Khojiev

Ferrite–silicate zinc leach residues are notoriously difficult to process hydrometallurgically—largely because ZnFe2O4 remains stable even under aggressive sulfuric acid conditions. This work presents, for the first time, a systematic study of hydrazine (N2H4) as a selective reductant for treating zinc cake generated at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC), Uzbekistan. Thermodynamic

2026 Shi Direct bioleaching of rare earths from coal fly ash

Shulan Shi, Ting Chen

Coal fly ash contains valuable rare earth elements (REEs), making its comprehensive utilization highly significant. In this study, REEs were recovered from two typical types of coal fly ash by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, and the influencing factors and leaching mechanisms were explored. The results showed that favorable pulp density for bioleaching was 2% and the bacterial inoculum size was 5%

sustainability 11 03347

Thriveni Thenepalli, Ramakrishna Chilakala

Heap leaching is a low-cost technology used in industrial mining to recover precious metals such as gold and uranium, along with several other highly sought after metals like copper, from their primary resources (ores and minerals). For many decades, there has been a growing demand for heap leaching due to its environmental benefits. Heap leaching provides mining operators with a benign, effective