Edited by:
Jonathan Lloyd, University of Manchester, UK
Ana Santos, Natural History Museum, UK
Eric van Hullebusch, Université Paris Cité, France
Piet Lens, IHE Delft, Netherlands
Lucian Staicu, University of Warsaw, Poland
Eva Pakostova, MIRARCO, Canada
The accelerating demand for critical metals (including cobalt, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals), driven by the global transition to low-carbon technologies and digital infrastructure, has placed increasing pressure on conventional metal extraction and refining practices. As traditional mining methods often incur significant environmental and economic costs, there is a growing drive to explore more sustainable, efficient, and innovative approaches to support critical metal recovery. In this context, bioprocessing, the application of biological systems for metal extraction, recovery, and recycling, has emerged as a transformative strategy with the potential to reshape the way that we manage critical raw materials.
This collection of reviews and research papers aims to bring together cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the intersection of diverse areas including; mineralogy, geomicrobiology, geochemistry, biometallurgy, environmental science, engineering biology and biochemical engineering. We aim to highlight the latest advances in biotechnological processes including (but limited to) bioleaching, biosorption, bioaccumulation, biomineralisation, and bioremediation technologies for critical metals. We seek papers that cover fundamental studies on a wide range of biological systems, including microbial and plant-based approaches to metal processing and optimization, that span the recovery of metals from sources including primary ores, mine tailings, and end-of-life electronic waste. We also welcome research papers and reviews that encompass broader issues of bioprocess scalability, techno-economic feasibility, and environmental impact, which will underpin the development of bio-based sustainable circular metal economies.
By assembling diverse perspectives from academia and industry, this collection will aim to help support this rapidly emerging area interfacial area, helping secure sustainable access to critical raw materials for the future, while support their recycling in circular economies.###br
Accepted articles will be published on this collection page continuously as and when they complete production.