Leaching Kinetics of Valuable Metals

Leaching is a primary extractive operation in hydrometallurgical processing, by which ametal of interest is transferred from naturally occurring minerals into an aqueoussolution. In essence, it involves the selective dissolution of valuable minerals, where theore, concentrate, or matte is brought into contact with an active chemical solutionknown as a leach solution. Currently, the hydrometallurgical processes have a greatnumber of applications, not only in the mining sector--in particular, for the recovery ofprecious metals--but also in the environmental sector, for the recovery of toxic metalsfrom wastes of various types, and their reuse as valuable metals, a7er purification.Therefore, there is an increasing need to develop novel solutions, to implementenvironmentally sustainable practices in the recovery of these valuable and preciousmetals, with particular reference to critical metals; those included in materials that areindispensable to modern life and for which an exponential increase in consumption isalready a reality, or will be in a short-term perspective. For publication in this SpecialIssue, consideration has been given to articles that contribute to the optimization of thekinetic conditions of innovative hydrometallurgical processes--economic and of lowenvironmental impact--applied to the recovery of valuable and critical metals.