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Enrichment of Rare Earth Elements and Noble Metals in Thermal Treatment Residues of Different Base Materials – A Review

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Abstract:

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Noble Metals (NMs) are critical resources in modern technologies, including electronics, renewable energy systems, and advanced materials. Even though REEs are moderately abundant in the Earth’s crust, their inhomogeneous distribution and difficult extraction procedures represent serious technical and environmental challenges. The increasing demand for these materials and the environmental problems associated with their primary extraction have led to an intensive search for sustainable recovery methods from secondary sources, such as contaminated biomass, electronic waste (e-waste), and mining residues. This overview article provides a critical analysis of the literature on the enrichment and recovery of REEs and NMs from secondary sources, with a special focus on thermal treatment technologies, including combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification. These technologies transform waste materials into solid residues enriched in valuable metals, which can be extracted more efficiently. The existing recovery methods are presented in terms of efficiency, environmental friendliness, and economic viability, and the main knowledge gaps are also discussed.

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Periodical:

Materials Science Forum (Volume 1197)

Pages:

73-84

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/p-fv1Fhe

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Online since:

July 2026

Authors:

Amanuel Ayyale Gobosho*, Helga Kovács

Keywords:

Noble Metals, Rare Earth Elements, Resource Recovery, Thermal Treatment

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© 2026 Trans Tech Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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