Extractive Metallurgy
A section of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701).
Section Information
This section of Metals covers the broad field of metal production and focuses on a deeper understanding of the routes and mechanisms for the extraction of metals from primary raw materials (concentrates, mining and mineral processing waste) and the recovery of metals from secondary raw materials (scrap, end-of-life products, industrial waste, intermediates) through recycling. The section also covers not only processes based on reaction chemistries but also processes from the field of special metallurgy, e.g., physical refining.
The field of process metallurgy and metal recycling incorporates all metals in our periodic system and extends them to the full broadness of engineering subjects for all unit operations based on wet-chemical (hydrometallurgy) and high-temperature chemistry (pyrometallurgy). Protective gas and vacuum technologies are used to produce high-purity metals and smart materials. On the other hand, low-cost technologies must be employed for the selective and economic recovery of metals from scrap residues. Reflecting on global resource conservation, energy consumption and prevention as well as follow-up environment protection technologies are significant preconditions for the development of all materials’ flow analyses and ecobalances for metallurgical processes and their products.
Contributions on the modelling and simulation of extraction processes are welcome. Papers may present experimental or theoretical studies and should focus on both the "metal-containing material flow" and the "process technology". Research on optimizing process chains and minimizing new waste generation in order to safeguard the plobal challenge fulfilling the circular economy goals is addressed in this section. All submitted contributions are subject to a strict peer review process and the decision on publication is always based on the recommendations of independent experts.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Metal Processing for Sustainability (Deadline: 10 July 2024)
- Secondary Refining (Deadline: 31 July 2024)
- Sustainable Gold Production and Recycling (Deadline: 31 July 2024)
- Recovery and Utilization of Metallurgical Solid Wastes (Deadline: 31 July 2024)
- Raw Material Supply for Lithium-Ion Batteries in the Circular Economy (Deadline: 30 August 2024)
- Separation and Purification of Critical Metals (Deadline: 31 August 2024)
- Recent Research on Zinc Resource Extraction, Recycling and Utilization (Deadline: 31 August 2024)
- Toward Achieving a Carbon-Neutral Society: Beneficiation and Extractive Metallurgy for Producing Critical Metals from Ores/Wastes (Deadline: 31 August 2024)
- Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Industrial Wastes by Advanced Methods (Deadline: 30 September 2024)
- Advances in Recycling and Reuse of Metals (Deadline: 30 September 2024)
- Advances in Mineral Processing and Hydrometallurgy—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 September 2024)
- Advances in Ironmaking and Steelmaking Processes (2nd Edition) (Deadline: 15 October 2024)
- Advances in Recycling of Valuable Metals—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 October 2024)
- Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development (Deadline: 31 October 2024)
- Recent Progress in Metal Extraction and Recycling (Deadline: 20 November 2024)
- Sustainability Approaches in the Recycling of Light Alloys (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Metal Recovery and Separation from Scraps and Wastes (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Feature Papers in Extractive Metallurgy (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Advanced Metal Smelting Technology and Prospects (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Flotation and Leaching Processes in Metallurgy (2nd Edition) (Deadline: 20 December 2024)
- Comprehensive Recycling of Metallurgical Solid Waste and Mineral Resources (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Electric Arc Furnace and Converter Steelmaking (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Hydrometallurgical Processes for the Recovery of Critical Metals (Deadline: 30 January 2025)
- Recent Advances in the Recycling and Reuse of Metallurgical Wastes and By-Products (Deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Comprehensive Utilization of Metallurgical Resources and Environmental Protection (2nd Edition) (Deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Advanced Tundish Metallurgy and Clean Steel Technology—Second Edition (Deadline: 31 July 2025)