Mohammed Omar Sahed Chowdhury

The increasing global demand for critical minerals, driven by rapid population growth and the widespread adoption of low-carbon technologies, electric vehicles, and clean energy systems, highlights the urgent need for sustainable resource management. Mine tailings, traditionally considered waste, are now being recognized as valuable secondary sources for mineral recovery. This paper compiles a comprehensive review of the four short- and mid-term critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements) and provides insights regarding their recovery with a focus on the latest technological advancements. By exploring key innovations in separation processes, the review demonstrates how these technologies are addressing supply chain bottlenecks while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of mining operations. The paper also advocates for a holistic approach to mine waste management, integrating mineral recovery with environmental remediation. It emphasizes the dual benefits of recovering valuable resources while purifying contaminated water and mitigating pollution risks. The proposed circular economy model suggests a sustainable blueprint for managing mine tailings, emphasizing resource reuse, waste reduction, and economic viability.

The petroleum industry produces a large amount of wastewater, known as produced water (PW), during oil production and processing. This PW contains hazardous organic and inorganic components that can harm the environment. Conventional treatment methods have been used to purify PW, but they do not meet environmental regulations, especially when the goal is to reuse the water. Therefore, further research is needed to find an effective technology for managing PW. This review focuses on the characteristics and management of PW originating from oil and gas fields. Firstly, we provide a detailed overview of PW production scenarios worldwide and in the US with detailed quantities and chemical compositions of organic, inorganic, and physicochemical characteristics. Secondly, challenges and environmental concerns associated with treating PW are discussed. Thirdly, all relevant treatment technologies for PW are systematically explored. In addition, this review highlights the management of PW and suggests treatment options and best practices for the industry, and finally, future research needs and opportunities for sustainable water treatment and effective reuse technologies are addressed. Because PW contains a variety of severe contaminants, single methods have not been effective in converting it to a reusable form or fulfilling disposal criteria. As a result, integrated technologies may provide a potential approach that not only meets regulatory standards but also provides chances to employ PW as a non-conventional water supply. Advances in PW management are critical and demand a defined framework and risk-based approach to determine and build the most efficient plan.

Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country. Unplanned growth of urban population causes audacious generation of solid wastes and strives immense pressure on existing services and environment. At present days, urban solid waste management is considered as most immediate and demanding environmental problems vexing Municipal authorities or urban governments in developing Asian countries like Bangladesh. Cities are now clashing with the serious problems of high amount of waste. The traditional concepts and inferior technologies of collecting waste are becoming incomplete as well as incompetent resulting more than half of the engendered solid wastes remain uncollected, disposed of regionally, forging the environmental view of cities quite murky and disheartening for the future. In waste management system, Germany is a role model for the world and the New German Closed-Cycle management is aiming to curve the waste management into resource management. The main intent of this research study is to categories in the solid wastes, discussing the issues of waste generation, a popular method for solid waste management, gasification schematic and waste-management model for Bangladesh. This study also explains Germany Closed-Cycle Management Act as well as waste treatment facilities, recovery, and disposal rate in Germany. Germany keeps very high-quality to preserve soil, air and water from the emissions integrated with waste storage and treatment.