Metals: Waste and Recovery

The past and present use of metal resources and main metallurgical processes will be briefly reviewed. The focus will be on the wastes produced during the metallurgical cycle of iron/steel and the environmental consequences following the exploitation of sulphide ore bodies. Three areas of discussion are highlighted: (1) the metal dispersion by mining activities and the possibility of metal recovery; (2) the after-use recovery/recycling of rare and precious metals through urban mining; and (3) the re-use of iron metallurgical slags in the frame of circular economy.