Following the success of ICHS2024, which welcomed more than 150 participants from 35 research institutions around the world, SOLVOMET R&I Centre is pleased to announce the second edition of the symposium: ICHS2026.
The 2nd International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium will take place in Mechelen, Belgium, from 2 to 4 September 2026. As in the previous edition, the symposium will be guided by the Twelve Principles of Circular Hydrometallurgy, which will serve as the foundation for discussions.
ICHS2026 will feature world-leading (hydro)metallurgists delivering visionary lectures on what these principles may mean for the future of hydrometallurgy.
We invite all researchers to share their enthusiasm by submitting their works for the poster session on all topics related to hydrometallurgy.
The lectures from invited speakers, alongside contributions submitted by participants, will foster meaningful discussions and spark new ideas in support of a more sustainable future.
Presentations and posters from the last symposium edition, ICHS2024, are available for download
Prof. Koen Binnemans is an inorganic chemist and full professor at KU Leuven (Belgium). He is head of the Laboratory of Metallurgical Chemistry (SOLVOMET Group). His main research lines are: (1) critical metals, with a focus on energy-transition metals (rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese); (2) solvent extraction, (3) hydrometallurgy and (4) solvometallurgy. Koen Binnemans has created the concept of Circular Hydrometallurgy and its 12 Principles. Circular hydrometallurgy refers to the designing of energy-efficient and resource-efficient flowsheets or unit processes that consume the minimum quantities of reagents and result in minimum waste. The application of a circular approach involves new ways of thinking about how hydrometallurgy is applied for both primary and secondary resources.