Want to join the Pyrometallurgy Section? Talk to Emira Moosavi!

The Pyrometallurgy Section promotes the active exchange of information within the Canadian base metal industry. This group of researchers and industrial operators focuses on thermodynamics, slag chemistry, process fundamentals, furnace design, operating practices, minor element behavior and off-gas treatment. Our new section chair Elmira Moosavi?is excited to bring her experience to the role!

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Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where do you currently work, and in what capacity?

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, école de technologie supérieure (éTS), Montreal. I teach the undergraduate course “Technology of Welding” and the graduate course “Applications of Computation Thermodynamics in Modern Manufacturing Processes.”

In addition to teaching, I lead the Sustainable Waste Valorization and Metal Extraction group, where we conduct research on the optimization and exploration of metal production processes, such as recycling and recovery of critical and rare metals from industrial wastes and end-of-life products.

Before joining éTS in July of 2021, I worked as a researcher in internationally recognized metal production companies, including Tata Steel (the Netherlands) and Aurubis (Germany), for about 4 years.

What is the history of your involvement with MetSoc?

Interesting that I studied for my MS.c. and Ph.D. at McGill University but did not know MetSoc and did not attend COM. I first heard about MetSoc from a colleague in 2019 when I was in Germany, and he proposed that I join the MetSoc Pyromet section. Fall 2019 was my first time being officially 'involved'.

What does your role as Pyrometallurgy Section Chair mean to you?

To me, it means we are making an effort to increase the section’s activities toward sustainable pyrometallurgical processes.

We have a lot of highly qualified professionals as the section member from all over the globe from academia and industry with great ideas who are willing to volunteer their time to help with this goal.?

In addition, I would like to encourage the younger generation to join our Pyromet section. I want to tell them that metals are essential to our socio-economic development and transition to green technologies, and pyrometallurgical processes don’t need to be necessarily polluting. Nowadays, scientists and researchers worldwide work on developing clean, high, temperature processes to minimize emissions and produce less waste.

What do you like to do in your leisure time?

This is a fascinating question because I can barely find any leisure time these days! However, spending time with my family and friends, hiking in nature, and travelling is pretty energizing for me!

How was your experience during COM last year? What are you planning for COM 2023?

Last COM (i.e., COM 2022 held in Montreal) was absolutely amazing. Our symposium was about deep decarbonization of pyrometallurgical industry. We had numerous keynote and invited speakers from internationally leading ferrous and non-ferrous industry and academia. We were able to meet and discuss the most-up-to-date efforts and research in this context.

For COM 2023, we will hold a symposium in honor of the late Dr. Bert Wasmund for his lifelong contribution to the design and implementation of novel technologies, toward more sustainable pyrometallurgy.?We are planning to cover all efforts related to improving the sustainability of pyrometallurgical operations, including energy-efficient technologies, with an emphasis on Waste Management, Recycling, Circular Economy, Environmental Considerations and Carbon footprint.

Any final remarks you would like to tell our readers?

If you want to participate in the Pyrometallurgical Section, please reach out! We are very excited about expanding our reach and creating a forum for sharing research and knowledge in the context of sustainable pyrometallurgical processes. More specifically, I would like to encourage young generations to get involved in the section and help it to grow (the future of pyrometallurgy is in their hands).

MetSoc consists of six Technical Sections.?Learn more.