Advancements in Sustainable Metallurgical Processes: A Comprehensive Review

• Bioleaching and microwave-assisted processing are emerging as viable alternatives to conventional pyrometallurgical methods, offering significant reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. • Waste valorization strategies, such as recovering valuable metals from slag and tailings, are transforming by-products into economic assets, enhancing resource efficiency. • Integration of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, into metallurgical operations is technically feasible and can substantially lower the carbon footprint of metal production. • Despite promising laboratory results, scaling up these sustainable technologies to industrial scale requires overcoming economic and technical barriers, necessitating collaborative research and policy support.