Advancing life cycle sustainability assessment for metal production from models to real-world impact

This project will create a new framework that combines process simulations with environmental, economic, and social life cycle assessments to evaluate the sustainability of metal production and recycling processes. By extending current methods beyond environmental analysis to also include costs and social impacts, the project will provide a more complete understanding of how new metallurgical technologies perform in real-world settings. The work will use magnesium extraction from dolomite as a test case and will benefit from close collaboration with Aalto University’s expertise and industry connections. Participating institutions will gain a cutting-edge tool that supports both academic research and industrial innovation, strengthens international collaboration between Canada and Finland, and positions them as leaders in developing practical solutions for more sustainable and responsible metal production.

Faculty Supervisor:

Qian Zhang;Farzaneh Sadri

Student:

Partner:

Aalto University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Sustainability & the Environment; Mining

University:

Queen's University

Program: