Glycine/Glutamate: “Green” Alternatives to Recover Metals from Minerals/Residues—Review of Current Research

Abstract

Currently, the use of called “green solvents” is a challenge that must be assumed by the industry, since they contribute to a friendly process and where its use has been extended, causing research needs, and recognition of application and analysis of potential new uses. The main objective of this study was to analyze the global scientific production related to the use of glycine or glutamate, amino acids that are used in mineral/waste leaching processes for the recovery of metals of interest, in an environmentally friendly manner. A literature search was performed using the Web of science database. Australia is identified as the country that occupies the first place with 17 (41.4%) published documents. For its part, the Hydrometallurgy journal with 13 (34.2%) documents and the Minerals Engineering journal with 10 (26.6%) documents are the journals with the highest number of documents published. In turn, Curtin University 14 (36.8%) is identified as the institution that presents the greatest leadership with respect to the number of publications. This study offers a first approach to the global efforts aimed at this new area of research, which in the last 5 years (2018–2022) has developed most of its publications and where an effort to increase scientific productivity is necessary.