Current status in the exploration, development, and utilization of cadmium resources in China

Cadmium is an advantageous strategic mineral, which playing a pivotal role in the global technological revolution, advanced manufacturing, and national defense security to dominance in high-technology sectors in China. It is an indispensable strategic mineral for the development of new materials industries among seven major emerging industries in China. Additionally, cadmium is a heavy metal element that easier to migrate and accumulate through the soil-crop-food chain, thus affecting human health. In the context of today’s complex international geopolitics and the new international ecological landscape triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the development and utilization of cadmium resources face unprecedented challenges in China. Firstly, the demand for cadmium resources remains high for the development of national strategic emerging industries. Secondly, the contention for resource dominance among nations, and the national strategic shift towards high-quality development urgently demand a shift in cadmium development and utilization towards more sustainable, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly approaches. This paper reviews the status of cadmium resources in China, current status of exploration, development and utilization of cadmium resources, concerning the recovery of associated cadmium resources in mining process, the secondary recycling of waste cadmium batteries, the application of environmental protection in information field and liquid metal field, and the improvement of the public and enterprises’ awareness of environmental protection and resource recovery, with the aim to enhancing capability in coordinated development of cadmium resources and ecological environment in China, and supporting the growth of strategic emerging industries.