Abstract
Society advancement and security are impossible without use of some metals registered in the critical raw materials / minerals lists of different jurisdictions. Critical metals (CM) production from ores will not be able to meet the raising future demand. This review is aimed at highlighting the solid waste from primary non-ferrous metals production as a source of CM. Elsevier and Web of Science databases (as primary) and Google Scholar, USGS databases and official legislative documents (as additional) sources were searched - using suitable keywords and criteria for relevancy - covering recent 20 years. Slag from copper, lead, zinc and nickel production from sulphide ores is an essential source of Al, Sb, Bi, Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni. Copper anode slime is rich in Sb and Bi, zinc leaching residues - in Al and Cu. Concentration ranges are presented for mentioned metals in the corresponding waste in various countries around the world. Pyro-, hydro- and bio-metallurgy are compared as technologies for CM recovery from the said waste. Process mineralogy is crucial for selecting the most effective metal recovery pathways. A conceptual technological approach is proposed for the metals’ recovery from the solid waste from non-ferrous base metals primary production. Slurry electrolysis, use of supercritical fluids, and solvometallurgy (that employs ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents) are presented as alternatives with promising laboratory results. Despite their advantages, these technologies require considerable further studies and development to reach commercialization. Necessity is highlighted of policies and standards for stimulating secondary raw materials usage.