Pyrometallurgical Extraction of Critical Metals for Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues,

Critical metals are subject to supply chain risks, but they are simultaneously essential to sustainable development. Key industry sectors and developmental initiatives such as renewable energy transition, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, battery technologies, consumer electronics, electric vehicles, among others, are affected by the supply of critical metals.

Pressure on primary and secondary raw material resources will increase due to the increasing global population, industrialization, digitalization, increasing demand from developing countries, and the transition to climate neutrality. Hence, innovative, optimized, and more efficient extraction process routes and technologies are required to address the global demand.

This Special Issue focuses on the resource identification, pyrometallurgical extraction, separation, and refining of critical metals for sustainable development. Topics include but are not limited to novel/improved processes for the production of:

• Ferroalloy metals: chromium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, niobium, tantalum, titanium, and vanadium;
• Precious metals: gold, silver, and platinum group metals (iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium);
• Other non-ferrous metals: aluminum, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, copper, indium, gallium, germanium, lead, lithium, and magnesium.

Prof. Dr. Mansoor Barati
Dr. Sina Mostaghel
Prof. Dr. Elmira Moosavi-Khoonsari
Guest Editors

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