Division/Committee: [ENVR: Division of Environmental Chemistry] [GEOC: Division of Geochemistry]

As global demand for critical minerals—such as rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and nickel—continues to surge, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to secure sustainable and reliable supplies. These metals are essential to the green energy transition, modern electronics, and advanced manufacturing, yet their extraction and processing are often accompanied by significant environmental, social, and geopolitical challenges. Resource recovery from industrial residues, electronic waste, and other secondary sources offers a promising pathway to alleviate supply risks and reduce environmental impacts associated with traditional mining. Advancing the science and engineering of critical metal recovery also aligns with circular economy principles, driving innovation across the entire supply chain. This symposium aims to bring together researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers for a vibrant discussion on recent advances in resource recovery technologies and opportunities for critical minerals. We invite abstracts that address topics such as: (1) Characterization and distribution of critical minerals in unconventional sources and waste streams; (2) Novel extraction technologies to recover critical minerals from waste; (3) Novel technologies and processes for separation and purification of critical minerals; (4) Techno-economic assessments in critical minerals recovery; and (5) Life cycle assessment and environmental sustainability for critical minerals recovery.

Dr. Ching-Hua Huang

Professor and Turnipseed Family Chair, Georgia Institute of Technology College of Engineering

Appearances