Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.6
Journals
Metals
Special Issues
Current Trends in Non-Ferrous Metals Extraction, Separation, and Refining
share announcement

Current Trends in Non-Ferrous Metals Extraction, Separation, and Refining

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1947

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marek Wojnicki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Non-Ferrous Metals, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: extractive metallurgy; separation recycling; nanomaterials; nanotechnologies based on metals and metal oxides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Beata Pośpiech

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Technology, Czestochowa University of Technology, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland
Interests: liquid–liquid extraction; metal leaching; membrane processes; hydrometallurgy; metal recycling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The production of non-ferrous metals remains one of the most intricate and challenging areas of global industry. The unique chemistry of each metal, coupled with their often collective occurrence in mineral deposits, necessitates highly specific and sophisticated separation processes. These processes frequently involve significant environmental impacts, raising the need for innovation in more sustainable and efficient methods. This Special Issue is dedicated to addressing the latest advancements and trends in the extraction, separation, recovery, and refining of non-ferrous metals, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and economic feasibility.

Non-ferrous metals are central to the stability of global financial markets. They are indispensable across a wide range of industries, including energy, transportation, electronics, and defense. As such, improving traditional metallurgical techniques and developing new technologies that enable the profitable processing of previously uneconomical or low-grade ores is not only a scientific endeavor but also a business imperative. With increasingly complex ores being mined and processed, the demand for cleaner and more efficient extraction and refining processes is paramount.

This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge solutions, including the use of membranes, sorbents, and ion-exchange technologies, which are paving the way for more selective and energy-efficient separations. At the same time, the issue will focus on the recycling of non-ferrous metals—an area of growing importance as we move towards a circular economy. Recycling not only helps to mitigate the environmental footprint of metal production but also plays a crucial role in resource conservation, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Special attention will be given to critical, strategic, and precious metals, such as rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and platinum group metals. These metals are not only essential for the advancement of high-tech applications, including renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles, but their extraction and refining are among the most cost- and energy-intensive processes in the metallurgical sector. As a result, their production has a substantial environmental impact, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and minimize waste.

This Special Issue seeks contributions that address these pressing challenges, from novel extraction techniques to advancements in separation and refining technologies, all the way to recycling strategies that reduce the reliance on primary resources. By fostering a discussion on the future of non-ferrous metals production, this issue aims to support the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient metallurgical industry, contributing to both environmental protection and economic growth.

Dr. Marek Wojnicki
Dr. Beata Pośpiech
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

  • extraction
  • separation
  • membranes
  • sorbents
  • hydrometallurgy
  • pyrometallurgy
  • solvent extraction
  • ion exchange
  • sustainable metallurgy
  • metal recovery

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 3362 KiB  
Article
Effect of Leaching of Ionic Rare Earth Ores on the Permeability Coefficient of Mineral Soil and Its Correlation with the State Parameter
by Run Xiang, Yunzhang Rao, Jiyong Zhang, Laiye Zhang and Zhihua Yang
Metals 2025, 15(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15030258 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 371
Abstract
The permeability of ionic rare is a crucial factor influencing the leaching rate of rare earth elements. In the Gannan region, many ionic rare earth ores exhibit poor permeability and high compressibility compared to sandy soils. The permeability coefficient is a key indicator [...] Read more.
The permeability of ionic rare is a crucial factor influencing the leaching rate of rare earth elements. In the Gannan region, many ionic rare earth ores exhibit poor permeability and high compressibility compared to sandy soils. The permeability coefficient is a key indicator of the hydraulic performance of these ores. Thus, this study investigates the permeability coefficients of ionic rare earth ores with varying fines contents during the leaching process, with a specific focus on analyzing the impact of fines on permeability performance. To provide a comprehensive assessment of the influence of fines, we prepared ionic rare earth ore samples with fines contents of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%, ensuring that the overall particle size distributions remained consistent with the original gradation. A constant head permeability test was employed to measure the permeability coefficients of these ore samples throughout the leaching process. We specifically examined how varying fines contents influenced permeability across the upper, middle, and lower layers of the ore body, as well as the overall permeability when subjected to both distilled water and magnesium sulfate solutions. To further elucidate the differences in permeability performance among the various rare earth ore samples, we performed a data fitting analysis of the initial permeability coefficients against fines content, uniformity coefficient, average particle diameter, and void ratio. This analysis aims to quantify the fines effect across different rare earth ores and establish correlations among state parameters, such as fines content, and the initial permeability coefficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Non-Ferrous Metals Extraction, Separation, and Refining)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5547 KiB  
Article
Hydrometallurgical Method for AgCu Alloy Powder Synthesis and Its Application in Pd(II) Recovery Through Cementation
by Tomasz Michałek, Konrad Wojtaszek, Stanisław Małecki and Marek Wojnicki
Metals 2024, 14(12), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14121450 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1011
Abstract
This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of silver–copper (AgCu) alloy powders produced from co-precipitated carbonates. The Cu/Ag carbonate samples were analyzed using EDXRF, TGA-DSC, XRD, SEM, and electrical conductivity tests to examine their composition, thermal behavior, structure, and morphology. The [...] Read more.
This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of silver–copper (AgCu) alloy powders produced from co-precipitated carbonates. The Cu/Ag carbonate samples were analyzed using EDXRF, TGA-DSC, XRD, SEM, and electrical conductivity tests to examine their composition, thermal behavior, structure, and morphology. The results showed slight deviations from the theoretical Cu/Ag ratios in the carbonates, attributed to equilibrium effects during precipitation. Thermal analysis indicated that the reduction process of carbonates with hydrogen was completed at 300 °C, while alloy formation was confirmed by endothermic peaks around 780 °C. XRD and SEM analyses revealed that AgCu alloys formed a solid solution, with smaller crystallite sizes observed at higher Cu contents. Electrical conductivity tests demonstrated that while pure Ag and Cu powders exhibited conductivity increases with compaction, the AgCu alloy showed stable conductivity without a significant decrease. In Pd(II) cementation experiments, AgCu alloys demonstrated higher efficiency in Pd(II) recovery than pure Ag and Cu. These findings suggest that AgCu alloys, particularly with a balanced composition, may offer improved performance for metal recovery applications, providing a promising approach for industrial cementation processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Non-Ferrous Metals Extraction, Separation, and Refining)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop