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Minerals
Special Issues
Mineral Processing and Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Future
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Mineral Processing and Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Future

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 1393

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zoran Štirbanović

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Guest Editor
Department for Mineral and Recycling Technologies, Technical Faculty in Bor, University of Belgrade, Vojske Jugoslavije 12, 19210 Bor, Serbia
Interests: flotation of poly-metallic ores; recovery of metals from copper slag; mineral processing technologies for recovery of metals from primary and secondary raw materials; monitoring of environment and solutions for preventing pollution from copper production industry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bojan A. Marinković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Research and Advanced Characterization of Materials (CePeCAM), Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (Deqm), Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22451-900, Brazil
Interests: materials engineering with the emphasis on advanced ceramics; environmental remediation and waste treatment; materials for renewable energy; physical properties of materials and minerals; synthesis of nanomaterials from mineral sands; X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhiyong Gao

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Guest Editor
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: flotation of oxide minerals; mineral crystal chemistry; flotation reagent molecular design; mineral/reagent/water interfacial science; waste treatment in minerals processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhitao Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: elucidating flotation mechanism with quantum chemistry; machine learning assisted new flotation reagent design; molecular dynamic simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world we live in is facing new challenges. The increasing demand for materials, especially critical minerals, and energy collides with depleted sources and ever-more evident climate change. Therefore, as members of the academic community, we must develop innovative solutions that provide new technologies and sources of much-needed materials and energy, enabling a sustainable future for future generations.

This Special Issue, "Mineral Processing and Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Future", is related to the XVI Mineral Processing and Recycling Conference – IMPRC 2025, which will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 28–30, 2025.

We invite you to participate in this conference and contribute to this Special Issue. Your contribution will help us to take a step forward to provide a sustainable future for generations to come. All participants of the IMPRC 2025 who would like to submit a paper to this Special Issue can be granted with 20% discount.

Dr. Zoran Štirbanović
Dr. Bojan A. Marinković
Prof. Dr. Zhiyong Gao
Dr. Zhitao Feng
Guest Editors

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. Minerals 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 2400 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

  • advances in mineral processing
  • recycling of waste materials for sustainable future
  • critical minerals utilization from waste and natural resources
  • innovative solutions in mineral and recycling industry
  • decarbonization and green technologies
  • energy transition for climate change reduction

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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21 pages, 13959 KiB  
Article
Utilisation of Zinc Processing Tailings (ZPTs) in Fired Clay Bricks Manufacturing: Case Study
by Ali Messai, Juan M. Menéndez-Aguado, Linda Berrekbia, Ikram Meramria, Begoña Fernández Pérez, Vladimir Nikolić, Milan Trumić and Amir Boustila
Minerals 2025, 15(3), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030325 - 20 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Zinc processing tailings (ZPTs) of the Kharzet Youcef processing complex, Setif, Algeria, are mainly stockpiled in tailing dumps without use, occupying significant surfaces and negatively influencing the human environment and health. Incorporating ZPTs into building materials manufacturing is an effective solution to meet [...] Read more.
Zinc processing tailings (ZPTs) of the Kharzet Youcef processing complex, Setif, Algeria, are mainly stockpiled in tailing dumps without use, occupying significant surfaces and negatively influencing the human environment and health. Incorporating ZPTs into building materials manufacturing is an effective solution to meet the dual objectives of environmental protection and economic development. This study investigates the influence of firing temperature and integrating ZPTs as a partial replacement for clay on the physic-mechanical properties of fired clay bricks (FCBs). Microstructural, chemical, and mineralogical analyses of ZPTs and clay were carried out by SEM-EDS, XRF, and XRD, respectively. Seven mixtures were produced with various percentages of ZPTs added to clay (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) and were fired at two different temperatures (900 and 1000 °C) at a ramp rate of 5 °C. Physic-mechanical tests were carried out on different brick specimens, and the results obtained showed that the FCBs incorporated with 10% of ZPTs produced the highest flexural strength of 6.24 MPa, compressive resistance of 29.78 MPa, bulk density of 1.37 g/cm3, and water absorption of 15.1% at 900 °C. Therefore, the recycling of ZPTs for FCBs manufacturing is feasible and an effective alternative waste disposal solution for sustainable development while reducing negative environmental impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Processing and Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Future)
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Review

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23 pages, 1447 KiB  
Review
Towards Circularity in Serbian Mining: Unlocking the Potential of Flotation Tailings and Fly Ash
by Nela Vujović, Vesna Alivojvodić, Dragana Radovanović, Marija Štulović, Miroslav Sokić and Filip Kokalj
Minerals 2025, 15(3), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030254 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 439
Abstract
This paper examines sustainable industrial practices in Serbia, particularly in the mining and energy sector, focusing on the potential of flotation tailings and fly ash, as materials with the largest share in disposed waste in Serbia in 2023 (95%). It highlights the environmental [...] Read more.
This paper examines sustainable industrial practices in Serbia, particularly in the mining and energy sector, focusing on the potential of flotation tailings and fly ash, as materials with the largest share in disposed waste in Serbia in 2023 (95%). It highlights the environmental challenges of mining waste and explores innovative approaches to waste management within the circular economy framework. The study analyzes the current state of mining waste in Serbia, particularly in copper mining regions in the east of the country. It discusses the potential for metal recovery from waste and its reuse in various industries. The research also investigates the use of fly ash from thermal power plants as a valuable resource in the construction industry and other sectors. The paper reviews existing initiatives and legislation in Serbia in order to promote sustainable mining practices and waste utilization. By presenting case studies and potential applications, the study demonstrates how implementing circular economy principles in the mining sector can contribute to environmental protection, resource conservation, and economic growth in Serbia. The comprehensive overview of the current state in Serbia provides a solid foundation for establishing a higher degree of circularity in the mining and energy sectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Processing and Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Future)
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