Applied WEEE pre-treatment methods: opportunities to maximizing the recovery of critical metalsApplied WEEE pre-treatment methods: opportunities to maximizing the recovery of critical metals Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2019-12-052018enWEEE is a fast-growing waste stream that includes potentially hazardous substances, but also valuable secondary raw materials, which can be recovered by adequate recycling and recovery treatment. In the last years, the research interest has moved from the conventional recycling (recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, glass and other “mass relevant” fractions presented in WEEE), to the innovational recycling, aimed to recover trace elements, such as critical metals (CMs) and rare earth elements (REEs). Currently, the majority of CMs and REEs are lost during the pre-treatment processes. In this paper, an overview of the most relevant e-waste categories and products in terms of CMs and REEs presence, a description of currently applied pre-treatment methods and fate of the observed group of metals during pre-processing phase, as well as general recommendation in order to avoid losses of CMs and REEs within the WEEE treatment chain, are elaborated.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Global Nest Journal204706-711 Batinic, Bernad, 1969- Vaccari M. Savvilotidou Vasiliki Σαββιλωτιδου Βασιλικη Kousaiti Athanasia Κουσαϊτη Αθανασια Gidarakos Evaggelos Γιδαρακος Ευαγγελος Marinkovic T. Fiore S. Global Nest Electronic waste Physical separation Secondary resources Rare earth elements