MEI's Critical Minerals '26: Addressing the Real Challenges in Processing and Recycling

Critical minerals are natural resources essential to modern economies and national security. They are vital in advanced technologies, clean energy solutions, and defence applications, but are increasingly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Replacing them is often difficult or impossible without compromising performance.

Currently, many conferences are being held on the topic of critical minerals, often focusing on geopolitical dynamics and supply chain vulnerabilities. However, MEI’s Critical Minerals ’26 stands out for its emphasis on processing and the unique challenges of recycling end-of-life products such as smartphones and other waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

While one could argue that nearly all minerals are becoming "critical," the most frequently cited include:

• Lithium – Crucial for batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
• Cobalt – Key component in battery technology and superalloys.
• Rare Earth Elements (REEs) – Used in electronics, wind turbines, and military systems.
• Nickel – Vital in stainless steel production and battery manufacturing.
• Graphite – Used in battery anodes and lubricants.
• Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) – Found in catalytic converters and fuel cells.

The processing and recycling of critical minerals present numerous complex technical and economic challenges. Many of these processes are energy- and water-intensive, an issue in regions where such resources are scarce or unsustainable. Critical minerals, such as rare earths, are typically found in low concentrations, and their separation requires energy-intensive, chemically harsh techniques. For example, China dominates the global rare earth processing market but also generates significant toxic and radioactive waste as a byproduct (posting of 11th February 2013).

The Circular Economy is often described as the "holy grail" of sustainable resource use, achievable only through the effective recycling of end-of-life products. Yet, critical minerals are often used in small quantities, dispersed across complex products, making recovery technically difficult and economically unfeasible. Infrastructure gaps further hinder progress; many countries lack adequate facilities for collecting, sorting, and processing these materials from discarded electronics.

Consider the smartphone: each device contains over 30 critical elements, most in trace amounts, yet each essential to its function. With more than 1.5 billion smartphones produced annually, the demand for these materials, and the volume of e-waste, continues to rise. Every year, thousands of tonnes of cobalt, gold, lithium, and rare earth elements are embedded in these devices.

Indium is a notable example. Used in touchscreens (as indium tin oxide), a typical smartphone contains only about 0.02 grams. However, total usage amounts to 100-200 tonnes annually across smartphones and computer/TV monitors. As indium is primarily recovered as a byproduct of zinc mining, scaling up supply in response to demand is difficult. Moreover, known reserves are projected to last only a few more years.

To meet global net-zero targets, the production of critical minerals must increase dramatically. The table below illustrates a sobering reality: at current extraction rates, we lack the physical supply to produce even one generation of renewable energy infrastructure, let alone maintain a sustainable cycle every 20 years, which is the typical lifespan of such technology.

For instance: a full transition away from internal combustion engines would require a massive increase in lithium supply. Achieving net zero would demand a 190-year supply of copper at current production rates.

Critical Minerals ’26, the 2nd in the MEI series (see reports on Critical Minerals '24) will spotlight innovative processing technologies and flowsheets for recovering critical minerals from both primary and secondary sources. Special attention will be given to the recycling of materials from WEEE and lithium-ion batteries, the most complex and pressing challenges in realising a true circular economy.

An early sponsor for Critical Minerals 26 is Promet101, and media partners are International Mining and Minerals Engineering. CEEC: Coalition for Minerals Efficiency is an industry advocate. 

Why not make the most of November next year, and spend a week at Cape Town's Vineyard Hotel with Process Mineralogy '26 immediately preceding Critical Minerals '26?

Sundowner at Critical Minerals '24

#CriticalMinerals26

Announcement: Flotation '25 Hits Abstract Limit Early

Over the past 30 years, MEI Conferences have steadily grown and evolved, building a strong portfolio of six internationally recognised events. 

Among them our flagship series, Comminution and Flotation, continue to expand, both in size and global participation.

Flotation '23 marked a milestone as the largest MEI event to date and Comminution '25 surpassed expectations with a record number of exhibiting companies.

Now, five months ahead of Flotation '25, we are seeing unprecedented engagement. Abstract submissions surged ahead of the May 31st deadline, and we now have over 200 presentations provisionally scheduled for oral and poster sessions, a record volume for this four-day event.

As a result, we’ve made, for the first time in our history, the decision to pause presentation submissions. Any new submissions will be added to a waiting list in case space becomes available. 

With such a packed programme, we anticipate a full and vibrant conference in November. Delegates can also take advantage of the satellite room, where all presentations will be streamed, allowing attendees to move freely without disrupting sessions.

The satellite room at Flotation '23

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be our most dynamic Flotation event yet.

#Flotation25

Memories of two Falmouth conferences: 20 years ago this month

Twenty years ago this month two MEI Conferences were held back to back at the Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel in Cornwall.

Processing and Disposal of Minerals Industry Wastes '05 was held from June 13-15, 2005 and was sponsored by Larox.

Attended by around 50 delegates from 24 countries, the 44 presentations were supplemented by social events, including an evening walk on the Falmouth coastal path and a visit to the historic Camborne-Reduth mining area.

Some of the photos taken during the three days are shown below:

Immediately following PDMIW '05, was a 2-day conference, Processing of Industrial Minerals '05. This was also sponsored by Larox, and also NavBharati Chemicals, World Cement and Industrial Minerals. 

Delegates from 16 countries representing the USA, South America, Europe, Australia, northern and southern Africa, gave presentations on processes and technologies involving among others feldspar, heavy mineral sands, kaolin, marble stone, talc, calcite, carbonate, olivine and a variety of iron ores.

A few photos are shown below:

Unlocking Efficiency: Why Process Mineralogy is Key to Successful Mineral Processing

Process mineralogy plays a pivotal role in modern mineral processing by offering deep insights into the mineralogical characteristics of ores. This includes detailed information on mineral composition, grain size, texture, and the associations between valuable and gangue minerals. Such knowledge is essential for optimising each stage of the beneficiation process, from crushing and grinding to separation and refining, ensuring that chosen methods are both technically sound and economically viable. By aligning processing strategies with the intrinsic properties of the ore, operators can achieve higher recovery rates, reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and improve overall plant performance.

As an interdisciplinary field bridging geology and metallurgy, process mineralogy involves comprehensive ore characterisation using advanced techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and automated mineral analysis systems. These tools reveal not only the types and proportions of minerals present but also their liberation characteristics, grain size distributions, intergrowth textures, and associations with deleterious elements. This level of detail is critical for selecting and fine-tuning processes such as comminution, flotation, and leaching. For example, understanding whether valuable minerals are finely disseminated or locked within complex textures helps determine the optimal grind size and separation strategy. Process mineralogy also supports metallurgical troubleshooting, ore variability analysis, and the prediction of processing outcomes, ultimately reducing operational risks and enhancing resource efficiency and profitability.

MEI’s Process Mineralogy Conferences serve as a cornerstone for the global mineral processing community. Since 2012, these biennial events have provided a dedicated platform for professionals, researchers, and academics to exchange ideas and explore the latest advances in process mineralogy. The most recent event, Process Mineralogy '24, was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 11-13, 2024.

Organised in consultation with Professor Megan Becker (University of Cape Town) and advised by Professor Alan Butcher (Chief Scientist & Technical Director, Hafren Scientific Group, UK), these conferences attract a global audience. Topics typically covered include quantitative mineralogy using X-ray and electron beam techniques, geometallurgy, ore characterisation, mineral liberation and textural analysis, on-site applications, sampling and statistics, and advanced process control.

The next conference in the series, Process Mineralogy '26, will return to Cape Town from November 16-18, 2026 (note: not in Sitges, Spain, as initially announced). 

The event will continue to focus on the core themes that define this dynamic field, maintaining its reputation as a leading forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Early sponsorship has already been confirmed by Promet101, with media support from International Mining and Minerals Engineering. The website is open for abstract submission and to reserve exhibition space.

A full report on Process Mineralogy '24 is available via this thread and selected photos from the event, held at the Vineyard Hotel, are shown below.

Process Mineralogy '26 will immediately precede Critical Minerals '26 at the same venue.

#ProcessMineralogy26

May summary: travels in Europe and sad news from Australia

Barbara and I were in Luxembourg at the beginning of the month, visiting Jon and family. Another chance to explore this beautiful small land of endless open meadows. forests and castles, and to take day trips into neighbouring Germany and Belgium.

The medieval Bourscheid castle in the Ardennes forest, Luxembourg

En route to the Nürburgring for our thrilling lap of this iconic race track, we took the opportunity of stopping off at the medieval German town of Bernkastel-Kues. straddling the Moselle.

We had an excellent lunch in the restaurant of the ruined Landshut Castle, with its fine views of the Moselle and Bernkastel-Kues.

Just across the Luxembourg border in Belgium is the small town of Bastogne, which played a major role in the Battle of the Bulge, which was pivotal in ending the war, as it was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front. The battle took place from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, in the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg. Hitler's goal was to split the Allied forces, then capture the strategic port of Antwerp, and force a negotiated peace on the Western Front.

The Germans took advantage of poor weather, which grounded Allied air forces and launched a surprise attack through the Ardennes, a lightly defended and forested region. Bastogne was a key crossroads town and whoever controlled it had control over the major roads in the Ardennes.

Bastogne was defended by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, along with elements of the 10th Armored Division and other units, who were resting up in the region, and on December 20, 1944, German forces surrounded the town, cutting off all supplies and reinforcements. Despite being surrounded, outnumbered, and lacking proper winter gear, the U.S. forces held firm and on December 26, General George Patton’s Third Army broke through German lines and relieved the besieged town.

Now the town has an excellent war museum and it was good to see so many school parties visiting and American flags flying in the town, showing the deep appreciation of the Belgian people to the 89,000 Americans who were killed, wounded and missing in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Many, including General Patton, are buried in the American war cemetery outside Luxembourg City.

Bastogne War Museum

Some of the fiercest fighting took place in the Bois Jacques, near the village of Foy, just outside Bastogne in the Ardennes. This dense pine forest became a critical defensive position for the American 101st Airborne Division, who dug numerous foxholes to shield themselves from enemy fire and the brutal winter conditions, the temperature dropping well below minus 20C. The soldiers were exposed to snow, ice, and freezing rain without adequate winter clothing or shelter and limited food and medical supplies.

The German forces had occupied Foy, and the American troops were tasked with liberating the village and despite the dire conditions, the men of the 101st Airborne Division (the famous Band of Brothers) successfully recaptured Foy on January 13, 1945, after intense fighting. 

Today, the remnants of these foxholes remain visible in Bois Jacques, serving as a testament to the soldiers' resilience. In the photo below we are standing near one of the foxholes by the clearing that provided a line of sight toward the village of Foy. This open space was crucial for observing enemy movements and coordinating attacks.

The German army had around 100,000 casualties during the Battle of the Bulge and huge losses in tanks, fuel, and aircraft which they could not replace, so after the battle Germany had little left to defend the western front, hastening the Allied push into the heart of Germany and eventually to Victory in Europe (VE) Day. While we were away we missed the week of celebrations in UK marking VE Day, celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8th May 1945 .

And while we were away, Amanda was also on the move, initially in the Isles of Scilly for the World Gig Rowing Championships.

Amanda centre foreground in the Isles of Scilly

Then on to Spain, to hike, in 6 days, the last 120km of the Portuguese Camino, from Baiona to Santiago de Compostela.

Changing the subject completely, early in the month Zhao Xintong made history as he became the first snooker player from China to win the World Championship with an 18-12 victory over veteran Mark Williams in Sheffield. A shame in a way that World Number 1 Judd Trump didn't make it to the final, as "Chinese dominance of Trump" would have made a great headline. The other Trump was, of course, in the news this month for various reasons, including his cherished mineral deal with Ukraine. On the first of the month the US and Ukraine signed the deal giving Washington access to some of the war-torn country's natural resources. The White House said that the partnership represents the US taking an economic stake in securing a free, peaceful and sovereign future for Ukraine. The agreement could provide a windfall to the U.S. but the resources will be expensive to extract, and any progress is unlikely while the war rages.

Trump's tariffs continue to disrupt world economics. Last week, just hours before the EU and USA were set for trade talks he imposed a 50% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from the European Union, due to come into effect on Sunday, but later extended to July 9th after a "very nice" call with the European Commission chief. Analysts said it remained to be seen whether the rhetoric would turn into reality. But the news just in today is that US Trade Courts have blocked the tariffs, saying that Trump has exceeded his authority, left the US trade policy dependent on his whims and unleashed economic chaos. And so the uncertainty continues!

There was also sad news this month of the death of Annette (Annie) Ralston, wife of Prof. John Ralston.  Annie, who was a lovely lady, died in Melbourne on May 3rd after a long illness. Barbara and I first met Annie in Cape Town in 2003, and the last time that I saw John and Annie was in Melbourne in 2022.

Cape Town 2003 and Melbourne 2022

In 2018 we were pleased to host John and Annie for a few days in Cornwall, especially as Annie was a fan of the TV series Poldark. In the photo below we are outside the West Wheal Owles pumping engine house, near Land's End, which, suitably 'dressed', was Ross Poldark's 18th century Wheal Leisure.

Our heartfelt condolences to John and his family.

We returned to Cornwall to some glorious early summer weather, and nowhere better to appreciate it than a late afternoon sundowner at Falmouth's Chain Locker by the side of the inner harbour,

Now our efforts are directed to the next MEI Conference, Flotation '25 in November. The deadline for abstract submission is the end of this week, but it will be a few weeks before we put the programme together, so it is not too late to submit an abstract.

The Continuing Evolution and Growing Importance of Flotation Collectors

Flotation ’25 is shaping up to be one of MEI’s largest and most exciting conferences to date, with a record number of exhibiting companies already confirmed. We’re anticipating a packed programme of oral and poster presentations. A quick reminder: the deadline for abstract submissions is the end of this week.

We’ve received a strong stream of abstracts covering a wide range of topics, including flotation machines and circuits, innovative techniques, process optimisation, and critical minerals flotation. Many submissions focus on what is arguably the backbone of flotation—chemical reagents. In fact, two of our four keynote lectures will delve into this essential topic.

Prof. Jim Finch of McGill University, Canada, will explore “Frothers: From Fundamentals to Practice”, while Prof. Liza Forbes of JKMRC and the University of Newcastle, Australia, will present “Beyond Reagent Trials: New Directions in Flotation Chemistry Research.” In addition, Prof. Forbes will give a one-day short course prior to the conference, titled “Flotation Chemistry: Fundamentals and Practice.”

The mining flotation chemicals market is undergoing significant growth, driven by rising global demand for minerals and a recovering mining sector. As ore bodies become more complex and the demand for specific minerals increases flotation chemicals are playing an increasingly critical role. According to industry reports, the global market for mining flotation chemicals is expected to grow steadily, with emerging economies seeing particularly strong expansion.

As nations continue investing in infrastructure and urbanisation, the need for efficient mineral recovery processes grows. Advanced flotation chemicals are at the forefront of this trend, not only improving recovery rates but also helping to reduce energy use and operational costs—key priorities for mining companies aiming to optimise performance.

Asia Pacific (excluding China) remains the largest regional market for mining flotation chemicals, buoyed by active mining industries in countries such as India, Australia, and Indonesia. Australia, a major exporter of minerals, has shown especially strong demand for flotation reagents, particularly in sulfide ore processing. Meanwhile, the region's increasing emphasis on sustainable mining practices and advanced flotation technologies is expected to further accelerate growth.

Latin America is also emerging as a key growth region, led by mineral-rich countries such as Chile, Peru, and Brazil. These nations require advanced flotation techniques for the efficient processing of copper, gold, and iron ore. Flotation '25 sponsor Clariant has responded by expanding its presence in Latin America, forging new partnerships to enhance flotation efficiency in copper and gold operations.

As environmental regulations tighten and sustainability becomes a defining competitive factor, bio-based and eco-friendly collectors are quietly transforming the mining chemicals landscape. BASF, a Flotation ’25 exhibitor, has launched a new line of flotation reagents aimed at supporting sustainable mining. These products are designed to reduce harmful emissions during processing, particularly in plants operating in Australia.

Derived from natural sources such as plant oils, fatty acids, and microbial surfactants, bio-based collectors offer significant environmental advantages. Compared to traditional xanthates, long the dominant collectors in sulfide ore flotation, these alternatives are less toxic, more biodegradable, and have lower environmental persistence.

Historically, the performance of bio-based reagents has been limited by variables such as pH, mineral composition, and water chemistry. However, recent advances in chemical engineering and microbial biotechnology are addressing these challenges, paving the way for broader commercial use. What was once a purely ethical consideration is rapidly becoming a regulatory requirement. As part of its ESG commitments, conference sponsor Glencore Technology has launched a pilot program in Australia to trial biodegradable collectors in select flotation operations.

One common concern with bio-based collectors is cost. On a per-kilogram basis, they may appear more expensive than synthetic alternatives. However, a deeper economic analysis reveals a different picture. In many operations, these collectors reduce tailings toxicity, streamline post-processing, and lower water treatment expenses.

As pressure mounts for mining operations to meet ESG targets and decarbonisation goals, green flotation agents represent more than just regulatory compliance—they offer a pathway to innovation and competitive advantage.

#Flotation25