An Overview of Research Activities Related to the Smart Database Development for Wastes from the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Industry

It is almost impossible to find a consistent and comprehensive classification system for Canadian mining and metallurgical wastes including both their techno-economic potential and environmental impact. In addition, the diversity of the mining and metallurgical wastes in terms of physicochemical properties necessitates different valorization routes, which is a multidisciplinary scientific and technological challenge. Therefore, this project aims at developing a smart database for waste based on a systematic and knowledge-based methodology. The circular economy, critical mineral plans of Canada and its allies, and environmental impact are among the aspects considered in the present work. The smart database will consist of several data libraries, modules, and a search and decision-making algorithm. The data libraries are categorized into data about local wastes such as composition and mineralogy, data about process specifications, economic data, and related technical references. Currently, five projects are active in parallel: (1) data collection of mine wastes in Quebec province, (2) data collection of mineral processing wastes, (3) data collection of hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy wastes, (4) potential wastes for CO₂ capture and storage, and (5) development of a search and decision-making algorithm. So far, the focus of the project has been on the wastes containing bismuth, cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, tellurium, and vanadium, considered critical according to Canada Critical Mineral List.