Remediating and recovering valuable metals from metallurgical slags is a critical challenge and opportunity for sustainable resource management in the metal extraction industry. This study investigates a process to simultaneously recover nickel, copper, and cobalt from nickel converter slag from the Sudbury region, Canada, using carbon- and iron-based reducing agents. Experimental results show that, without additives, performing reduction settling at 1300 °C, a process similar to metal extraction from ore concentrates, yielded 62 wt% recovery of valuable metals, while after adding reducing additives, over 90% of entrained valuable metals were efficiently coalesced into a matte phase within one hour, significantly reducing the hazardous metal content in the residual slag leaving mainly iron and silicon oxides, which are stable and environmentally benign. X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS analyses show that after treatment, the dominant phases in the residual slag are fayalite (Fe₂SiO₄) and glassy silicates, with almost no detectable sulfide or metallic inclusions or other leachable metal-bearing phases. Estimated total cost to increase and maintain slag temperature at 1300 °C for 1 h is $44.50 per tonne. The exothermic reaction of ferrosilicon with slag provides 14.60 kWh/tonne of energy, reducing the need for external heating, while the value of recovered metals is about 10 times higher than the estimated capital, processing, and transportation costs of the additional process treatment. An efficient and sustainable approach to recovering valuable metals from nickel slag, using innovative chemistry and process integration, delivered high metal recovery, reduced environmental impact, and clear economic benefits. The proposed approach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as outlined in the document ‘Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda’, supports circular economy principles, enhances resource efficiency, and offers a practical pathway for remediating legacy slag deposits in existing metals extraction facilities.

The increasing number of electronic devices and the development of telecommunication and wireless communication have increased the density of secondary non-ionizing waves and created electromagnetic wave pollution. To prevent their impact, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are used. Due to physico-chemical properties, such as lightweight, chemical stability and tunable electrical properties, graphene and its derivate, graphene oxide (GO), seem to be a smart alternative. Its flexibility, biocompatibility, and sheet-like morphology make it particularly attractive for functionalization of textile fabrics. This paper presents innovative functionalized cotton fabrics modified with an agent-free approach using reduced GO (rGO) and rare-earth-based nanoparticles (REVO4: SmVO4, GdVO4, NdVO4, DyVO4). Cotton was functionalized with GO and REVO4 by repeating dipping, drying, and reduction cycles, from 1 to 30. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that GO sheets were homogeneously covering cotton fibers, while small spherical objects were identified across the fibers and confirmed REVO4 deposition. The effectiveness of EMI shielding in the samples with the highest number of deposited GO and REVO4 layers was between 20 and 28% across the band 2.60 to 3.95 GHz frequency range. Although shielding effectiveness is limited, the results highlight the potential of rGO and rare-earth-based nanoparticles as promising candidates in the professional clothing of workers in radar and telecommunications.

U ovom radu je predstavljena primena „GLA” metode na osnovu koje je data ocena ranjivosti podzemnih voda okoline Kosmaja. Na osnovu raspoloživih geoloških, hidrogeoloških, hidroloških, pedoloških, i podataka iz istražno-eksploatacionih bunara izabrana je „GLA” metoda. Na istražnom području jedno od najznačajnijih izvorišta je izvorište “Sofia“ za koje je i rađena ocena ranjivosti. Izrada karata ranjivosti podzemnih voda tj. njihovih izdani su od suštinske važnosti za razumevanje date problematike koja se ogleda pre svega u lociranju najugroženijih zona izdani kako bi se odredile mere zaštite voda i sproveo monitoring kako površinskih tako i podzemnih voda. Kao rezultat obrade dostupnih podataka u radu je predstavljena finalna karta ranjivosti podzemnih voda šire okoline Kosmaja, izvorište “Sofia“.