The Role of (Electro)hydrometallurgy in Securing Defense and Critical Materials
Critical raw materials (also known as critical minerals) are crucial for energy transition and the fundamental necessity of national defense resilience, and supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical instability.
This seminar explores (electro)hydrometallurgy as a technological bridge to achieving strategic resource autonomy through clean and circular processing routes towards sustainable mining.
Examples will be discussed in the seminar that include recycling urban solid waste and wastewater, and mining waste. (Electro)hydrometallurgical processes offer a low-carbon footprint and capacity to recover materials from low grade sources, such as e-waste, spent batteries, and mining wastes.
This seminar will also discuss novel technical and economic assessment for flexible processing to obtain materials that can be implemented worldwide. Adoption of advanced aqueous processing routes is strategic imperative to ensure a stable, domestic, and environmentally responsible supply of the materials that power our green future and protect our national security.
