Elemental Sustainability and the Importance of Scarce Element Recovery

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

A growing movement towards the development of “low carbon technologies” and an increased demand for consumer electronics are contributing towards a resource deficit. Many of these technologies require rare and precious metals for their production and use. The reserves of these elements are being depleted at a rapid rate, but they are not “running out” or being destroyed. These unique elements are being quickly dispersed throughout our environment, making their recapture both highly challenging and costly. As such, it is essential to develop new sustainable routes and strategies for the recovery and reuse of these elements. This chapter discusses the issues relating to those elements regarded as being “critical” in terms of having significant international supply risk issues and which are also vital to a nation’s economy (or company’s business). The importance of adopting a sustainable holistic approach to the extraction, processing, use and recovery is highlighted as being vital in ensuring a sustainable long‐term supply of all elements.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication Element Recovery and Sustainability
EditorsAndrew Hunt
PublisherThe Royal Society of Chemistry
Pages1-28
Number of pages28
ISBN (Electronic)9781849737340
ISBN (Print)9781849736169
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Publication series

NameRSC Green Chemistry
ISSN (Print)17577039
ISSN (Electronic)17577047

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