New Trends in Sustainable Extraction of Energy-Critical Minerals
A special issue of Eng (ISSN 2673-4117).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 36
Special Issue Editor
Interests: extractive metallurgy; flotation; rare earth elements; lithium; hydrometallurgy
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global transition to clean energy technologies has intensified the demand for energy-critical minerals, essential for renewable energy systems, energy storage, and advanced electronics. However, conventional extractive metallurgy and mineral processing methods are often energy-intensive, costly, and of environmental concern. These methods are generally not circular and, consequently, are unsustainable in the long term. This Special Issue, New Trends in Sustainable Extraction of Energy-Critical Minerals’, aims to highlight innovative approaches that enhance the efficiency, selectivity, and environmental performance of energy-critical mineral extraction and processing. Key topics include, but are not limited to, advancements in hydrometallurgy, novel ligands for solvent extraction and saponification, bio-based extraction techniques, ionic liquid and deep eutectic solvent applications, and electrochemical- and membrane-based separations. Additionally, this Special Issue will explore circular economy strategies, including recycling, urban mining, and closed-loop processing, as well as the role of machine learning and process modeling in optimizing extraction techniques. Contributions focusing on low-waste, low-carbon, and socially responsible extraction pathways are especially encouraged. By bringing together cutting-edge research from academia and industry, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable extraction methods that support the secure and responsible supply of energy-critical minerals. Researchers, engineers, and scientists are invited to contribute original studies and reviews that shape the future of sustainable extractive metallurgy.
Dr. Behzad Vaziri Hassas
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Eng is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- energy-critical minerals
- critical elements separation
- novel ligands
- solvent extraction
- saponification
- ionic liquid
- deep eutectic solvents
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
