Turning Waste into Value: Department Hosts Mineral Waste Valorization Conference
The Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology hosted the Mineral Waste Valorization Research Conference on 25 June 2026 at the KNUST Library Mall.
The conference, organised by the Department in collaboration with the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) under the Dr. Bennetta Koomson OWSD Fellowship Initiative, formed part of dissemination activities for Dr. Koomson’s research project on sustainable mineral waste management.
The event brought together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, students, and other stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches to waste valorization, urban mining, and stronger academia-industry collaboration.
Dr. Koomson’s research focuses on removing lead from spent cupels generated during fire assay operations and using the treated residues, together with locally sourced materials, to produce new cupels. The project highlights the potential of converting mineral waste into useful industrial products while promoting environmental protection.
The programme was chaired by the Provost of the College of Engineering, Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, who emphasised the importance of collaborative research and innovation in addressing environmental and industrial challenges.
Keynote speakers included Dr. Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, who spoke on mineral waste management policies and industry practices; Mr. Sampson Koduah, Business Line Leader for Intertek Minerals Sub-Saharan Africa, who shared industry perspectives on waste valorization technologies and circular economy strategies; and Dr. Koomson, who presented on urban mining as a strategy for sustainable metal recovery.
The conference also featured an exhibition of project outputs, including a filter press system, a cupel mould production system, and research demonstrations by MPhil students under Dr. Koomson’s supervision. Participants were introduced to the application of machine learning in optimising lead leaching and cupel production.
A panel discussion with representatives from Intertek Minerals Limited, Mining Process Projects Engineering, and Imperial College of Mines and Safety explored partnerships for commercializing research outputs and addressing environmental challenges in Ghana’s mining sector.
Technical breakout sessions allowed researchers and students to present papers in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, environmental sustainability, and materials engineering.
The conference was supported by Intertek Minerals Limited, Mining Process Projects Engineering, the Brew Hammond Energy Centre at KNUST, Imperial College of Mines and Safety, We Africa and Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World.
The event reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to impactful research, environmental sustainability and industry collaboration. It also highlighted urban mining as a practical pathway for recovering valuable materials from waste and supporting a circular economy.
Homepage Teaser: Turning waste into value: the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering brings experts together to explore innovative solutions for sustainable mining and resource recovery.
