| Abstract Scope |
The cycle of materials such as metals involved the steps of geological exploration, mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, and recycling. In each of the step, it is achieved by processing materials using energy. Depending on the process and the forms of energy input, products and by-products with various environmental impacts are generated through air, water and solid means. To obtain the most efficient process with the minimum environmental impacts at the best economics is the driving force that continuously pushes the advances of technologies. Variables in the materials, process, and energy are common parameters facilitating the development of ideas. Understanding of the parameters involved in the materials, energy, environmental and economics is the fundamental of a systematic approach. The validity of ideas and its potential to move to practice depend on the soundness of the system. The author reviewed several cases of his research to illustrate their relations. |