Green Processing of Strategic Elements Based on Magnetic Nanohydrometallurgy

Magnetic nanohydrometallurgy (NHM) is a new process based on engineered superparamagnetic nanoparticles capable of performing as complexing agents for extracting and recovering strategic metals from mineral sources and urban wastes, as well as for removing hazardous elements from contaminated water. Its principles and application are reviewed in this paper. Typical examples involving copper, silver and mercury processing are here discussed, including the exploitation of a novel nanotechnological strategy for capturing and fractionating rare earth elements.