Studies on Metal Leaching, Extraction and Recovery
A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Extractive Metallurgy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2026 | Viewed by 18
Special Issue Editors
Interests: recovery of critical metals from raw materials, with a focus on rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper; processing of unconventional earth resources metal; sampling procedure of e-waste; the application of microwave energy in hydrometallurgy
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The recovery of metals from secondary sources, especially electronic waste (e-waste), is becoming increasingly essential in supporting the goals of a circular economy. With the growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and critical raw materials used in the production of high-tech devices such as smartphones, batteries, and photovoltaic panels, innovative recycling technologies are needed to reduce environmental burdens while ensuring a sustainable supply of these materials. E-waste, which contains valuable metals like gold, silver, copper, cobalt, and lithium, represents a rapidly growing waste stream that poses significant environmental challenges but also offers a source of valuable raw materials for reuse.
Conventional pyrometallurgical methods for processing e-waste are limited by hazardous emissions and energy-intensive processes. As an alternative, hydrometallurgical techniques such as leaching and solvent extraction are gaining attention due to their ability to selectively recover metals with higher purity while minimizing environmental impacts. Recent advances in the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have shown promise in improving the efficiency and sustainability of these processes. By studying the thermodynamics and kinetics of leaching, researchers can better understand the factors that influence metal recovery and optimize these processes for various types of e-waste.
The research in this area must focus on developing more environmentally friendly and cost-effective technologies for the recovery of metals, particularly from spent batteries, old smartphones, and other electronic devices. The sampling of materials, such as printed circuit boards and battery components, plays a crucial role in the successful recovery of valuable metals. This Special Issue aims to showcase original research that explores novel methods for the leaching, extraction, and recovery of metals while addressing sustainability, environmental impacts, and circular economy principles.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Martina Laubertova
Prof. Dr. Oksana Velgosova
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. Metals 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 2600 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
- solvent extraction
- deep eutectic solvents
- thermodynamic and kinetic of leaching
- microwave-assisted leaching
- raw materials
- rare earth elements
- circular economy
- e-waste
- photovoltaic panels
- nanomaterials
- metals recovery
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