Phytomining of precious metals recent progress in Africa and future assessment a review

Mining is continuously an environmental worry to human sustainability most especially in developing nations. Phytomining an eco-friendly technique is a viable approach in that it offers benefits not only in the cleaning and rehabilitation of the mine wastes but recovery of the abandoned minerals in the tailings for economic benefits. While phytomining is not a substitute for conventional mining, it has the potential to function as a complementary technology for harnessing mineral resources that would otherwise remain unutilized. However, despite its promise, this technology remains underutilized in Africa, primarily because of the substantial financial requirements and complex innovations involved. This review therefore provides an in-depth evaluation of recent developments in the phytomining of precious metals across Africa, emphasizing regional advancements, existing challenges, and possible applications. In contrast to earlier studies, it takes a future-oriented assessment of phytomining by assessing the feasibility of phytomining while incorporating emerging technologies, economic considerations, and environmental implications. By consolidating recent findings, it presents fresh perspectives on enhancing phytoextraction techniques for sustainable metal extraction in the African context. The phytomining applications including the recovery of catalytically active bio-ores/nanoparticles from plants biomass were also summarized synthesizing Africa’s progress of bio-ore applications in catalysis.