XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 791
Department which addresses some aspects of mining and
mineral processing.
Aiming at advanced and sustainable mineral concen-
tration, this module covers innovative approaches to min-
eral and metal processing. Focusing on sustainability, it
addresses energy demands for particle size reduction (i.e.,
comminution), incremental and step-change innovation
concepts with regard to valuable particle separation, and
fine particle flotation separation and trace valuable sepa-
ration with more complex ore mineralogy. Environmental
aspects are also considered, since mineral and metal process
engineering has very large water and energy footprints.
In practical terms, the courses taught in this module
are energy-efficient comminution, water-efficient mineral
processing, sustainable mineral processing plant design,
digitalization and smart system in mineral processing, and
sustainable mineral processing engineering, see Table 4.
Module 3B: “Circular Economy and Recycling” at
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the only Croatian national
institution to offer study programs in Mining Engineering,
and the courses in Mineral Processing are an integral part
of them. To ensure sustainability, the primary raw materials
are being preserved and mineral processing methods have
been widely used in the recycling of solid waste to obtain
secondary raw materials.
This module addresses sustainability by covering the
transition from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose”
concept to sustainable circular economy—“take-recycle.”
Students will learn about sustainable mineral/waste
resource management and utilizing secondary raw materi-
als by reuse, recycling and reprocessing minerals/waste.
The knowledge acquired through the first two mod-
ules will be upgraded by management and application
of technological processes and procedures in the circular
economy, solid waste recycling, tailings management and
reprocessing, soil remediation, naturally occurring radioac-
tive materials (NORM) residues processing and disposal,
see Table 5. Theoretical knowledge will again be supple-
mented by laboratory exercises and plant visits.
Table 4. List of courses in module 3A
Course ECTS
Energy Efficient Comminution 5
Water Efficient in Mineral Processing 5
Sustainable Mineral Processing Plant Design 5
Digitalization and Smart Systems in Mineral Processing 5
Sustainable Mineral Processing Engineering 5
Elective 5
Module 4: Master’s Thesis
The thesis can be supervised by any partner university
and will be executed at one of the cooperating companies.
The 4th semester of the program is intended to be mostly
‘hands on’, enabling the trainees to have close contact with
the practical aspects of sustainable mineral processing issues
and collaborating with associate partners (industry, research
centers or suppliers).
Comparison to Other Study Programs in Mineral
Processing
Mineral processing studies are offered on both Bachelor’s
and Master’s level throughout the world. While efficiency
has always been one of the key issues with mineral process-
ing, sustainability as such is usually not addressed at the
module level of the program. PROMISE differs not only by
carrying the keyword in its name, but also by dedicating the
entire third semester. Additionally, sustainability is directly
addressed already in the first two semesters.
One of the strengths of PROMISE is that four univer-
sities all contribute to one combined program with their
special strengths, instead of having to excel in all aspects as
with their conventional master’s programs.
Internationality of the program is a key ingredient of
every Erasmus Mundus Joint Master. This refers not only
to the provenance of the students, but also to the implied
mobility during the four semesters. Currently, there are two
more EMJMs related to mineral processing: SINReM (by
the universities of Uppsala, Freiberg, and Ghent SINReM
2024), and EMerald (by Universities of Liège, Lorraine,
Luleå and Freiberg EMerald 2024). EACEA, the responsi-
ble EU agency, maintains a catalogue of all Erasmus related
projects and activities, including the EMJMs (EACEA
2024).
While naturally also offering the same concept of inter-
nationality, the two competitors also treat mineral resources
as such, including geological and mining engineering
aspects. With the bachelor’s background of the typical
PROMISE student, the supporting knowledge from these
fields is already adequately present and thus not part of the
curriculum.
Table 5. List of courses in module 3B
Course ECTS
Recycling and Waste Treatment 5
Urban Mining and Circular Economy 5
Tailings Management and Reprocessing 5
Solid -Liquid Separation 5
Soil Remediation Technology 5
Elective 5
Department which addresses some aspects of mining and
mineral processing.
Aiming at advanced and sustainable mineral concen-
tration, this module covers innovative approaches to min-
eral and metal processing. Focusing on sustainability, it
addresses energy demands for particle size reduction (i.e.,
comminution), incremental and step-change innovation
concepts with regard to valuable particle separation, and
fine particle flotation separation and trace valuable sepa-
ration with more complex ore mineralogy. Environmental
aspects are also considered, since mineral and metal process
engineering has very large water and energy footprints.
In practical terms, the courses taught in this module
are energy-efficient comminution, water-efficient mineral
processing, sustainable mineral processing plant design,
digitalization and smart system in mineral processing, and
sustainable mineral processing engineering, see Table 4.
Module 3B: “Circular Economy and Recycling” at
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the only Croatian national
institution to offer study programs in Mining Engineering,
and the courses in Mineral Processing are an integral part
of them. To ensure sustainability, the primary raw materials
are being preserved and mineral processing methods have
been widely used in the recycling of solid waste to obtain
secondary raw materials.
This module addresses sustainability by covering the
transition from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose”
concept to sustainable circular economy—“take-recycle.”
Students will learn about sustainable mineral/waste
resource management and utilizing secondary raw materi-
als by reuse, recycling and reprocessing minerals/waste.
The knowledge acquired through the first two mod-
ules will be upgraded by management and application
of technological processes and procedures in the circular
economy, solid waste recycling, tailings management and
reprocessing, soil remediation, naturally occurring radioac-
tive materials (NORM) residues processing and disposal,
see Table 5. Theoretical knowledge will again be supple-
mented by laboratory exercises and plant visits.
Table 4. List of courses in module 3A
Course ECTS
Energy Efficient Comminution 5
Water Efficient in Mineral Processing 5
Sustainable Mineral Processing Plant Design 5
Digitalization and Smart Systems in Mineral Processing 5
Sustainable Mineral Processing Engineering 5
Elective 5
Module 4: Master’s Thesis
The thesis can be supervised by any partner university
and will be executed at one of the cooperating companies.
The 4th semester of the program is intended to be mostly
‘hands on’, enabling the trainees to have close contact with
the practical aspects of sustainable mineral processing issues
and collaborating with associate partners (industry, research
centers or suppliers).
Comparison to Other Study Programs in Mineral
Processing
Mineral processing studies are offered on both Bachelor’s
and Master’s level throughout the world. While efficiency
has always been one of the key issues with mineral process-
ing, sustainability as such is usually not addressed at the
module level of the program. PROMISE differs not only by
carrying the keyword in its name, but also by dedicating the
entire third semester. Additionally, sustainability is directly
addressed already in the first two semesters.
One of the strengths of PROMISE is that four univer-
sities all contribute to one combined program with their
special strengths, instead of having to excel in all aspects as
with their conventional master’s programs.
Internationality of the program is a key ingredient of
every Erasmus Mundus Joint Master. This refers not only
to the provenance of the students, but also to the implied
mobility during the four semesters. Currently, there are two
more EMJMs related to mineral processing: SINReM (by
the universities of Uppsala, Freiberg, and Ghent SINReM
2024), and EMerald (by Universities of Liège, Lorraine,
Luleå and Freiberg EMerald 2024). EACEA, the responsi-
ble EU agency, maintains a catalogue of all Erasmus related
projects and activities, including the EMJMs (EACEA
2024).
While naturally also offering the same concept of inter-
nationality, the two competitors also treat mineral resources
as such, including geological and mining engineering
aspects. With the bachelor’s background of the typical
PROMISE student, the supporting knowledge from these
fields is already adequately present and thus not part of the
curriculum.
Table 5. List of courses in module 3B
Course ECTS
Recycling and Waste Treatment 5
Urban Mining and Circular Economy 5
Tailings Management and Reprocessing 5
Solid -Liquid Separation 5
Soil Remediation Technology 5
Elective 5