IROST Launches Research Institute for Exploration, Processing of Strategic Metals
“In recent years, due to growing global economy and the increase in the pace of emerging economies, the global demand for different metals is increasing sharply, while most studies forecast further growth in the demand for metals.” the chairman of the IROST Hassan Zamanian said, according to a report by the IROST website.
“Apart from famous metals such as steel and aluminum, new challenges in the field of critical metals have sparked serious concerns,” he added.
Zamanian went on to define critical mineral or metal as raw material that face the risk of shortages compared to many other raw materials.
He further said that those metals and sensitive raw materials are also referred to "strategic metals" “small green metals", "special metals", "technological metals" and "rare metals" in scientific journals.
The IROST chairman who is also deputy science minister further pointed to the launch of the Research Center for Exploration and Processing of Strategic Mineral Elements, adding, “This research center was founded with the aim of developing selective and effective processes in the IROST. In this research center, the processes related to the exploration and extraction of strategic elements will be surveyed and studied.”
“Besides, special resources related to those elements and metals, the use of secondary resources (including accessory minerals) and the re-production (recycling) of products that contain metals from their compounds in consumed parts (batteries, magnets, electrical boards, catalysts, etc.) will also be studied,” Zamanian continued.
“This research institute will also study the environmental consequences and economic feasibility of the above-mentioned development processes,” he added.
According to deputy science minister, the newly-established institute has three different research groups: "geology and exploration", "extraction and processing" and "modern mineral industrial technologies".
“In this research institute, future-oriented education and training courses will be conducted, and production, recovery and recycling of metals, minerals and environmentally friendly engineered materials will also be pursued,” the deputy science minister added.
Stating that IROST has done research in the field of strategic mineral elements for many years, Zamanian added, “The scientific members of this organization have carried out many projects in cooperation with industries and universities across the country.”
He further said that the IROST and the its newly established institute have various geological equipment, machines and devices in their workshops that can help the institute to achieve its goals.
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