Metallurgical Engineering and Technical Analysis of Lifecycle and Sustainability

Course description

The course is organized entirely online, and it is based on independent study. The course content is divided into six themes.

Theme 1: Where and how are metals used?

• Role of metals in the history of humankind
• Evolution of metals applications
• Metals in modern society and green transition
• Different types of metals and their selected applications

Theme 2: Why are metals used in so many applications?

• Common properties of metals
• Properties of ferrous metals and steel
• Properties of nonferrous and precious metals
• Metals as Critical Raw Materials

Theme 3: How are metals produced?

• The value chain of metals from mining to refining
• Different types of raw materials
• The role of minerals processing and its principles
• Introduction to pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy

Theme 4: Why are metals so critical now?

• Concepts of circular economy and sustainability
• Connection between metals​ and sustainability
• Metals for energy production and storage​

Theme 5: Can we reuse metals?

• Circular economy of metals
• Possible routes of metal recycling
• Challenges related to metal recycling and resource efficiency
• Newest trends in metal recycling technologies

Theme 6: How to assess environmental impact of metals?

• Importance of environmental impacts assessment
• Different categories of environmental impacts
• Life Cycle Assessment as a tool for evaluating environmental impacts
• Example of Life Cycle Assessment analysis of metals production