Research Statement

Research Keywords

• Mineral Processing
• Metallurgical Extractive Processes
• Hydrometallurgy
• Coal Preparation

Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts

• Production of High-Grade Rare Earth Elements and Critical Materials from Coal Mine Drainage Aided by 3D Printed Ion Exchange Resin. PI: Xinbo Yang. 07/01/2023 - present. Total project budget to date: $200,000.00
• Advanced Separation and Processing Technologies for Enhanced Product Recovery and Improved Water Utilization, Cost Reduction, and Environmental Impact of an Integrated Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Sy. PI: Jiaqi Jin. Co-PI(s): Xinbo Yang. 10/01/2023 - present. Total project budget to date: $592,985.00
• Development of a Carbon-Negative Process for Comminution Energy Reduction and Energy-Relevant Mineral Extraction through Carbon Mineralization and Biological Carbon Fixation. PI: Xinbo Yang. 03/09/2023 - 03/08/2026. Total project budget to date: $480,004.00
• Prevention of Acid Mine Drainage from its Source: Inhibition of Pyrite Oxidation using Humic Rich Food Waste Compost. PI: Xinbo Yang. U.S. Department of Interior OSMRE, 11/01/2022 - 05/31/2024. Total project budget to date: $169,810.00

Research Equipment and Testing Expertise

• Agilent ICP-OES 5800, Etc.
• Bench Scale Solvent Extraction.
• Bench-Scale Leaching Reactor with Temp Control and Reflux Condenser.
• Continuous Bioreactor with Temp Control and Feeding System, 3 Liter.
• Corning® LSE™ Benchtop Shaking Incubator.
• Dynamic Column Leaching Setup (X4), 4"X12".
• Furnaces: muffle furnace, tube furnace.
• Gamry Reference 600 potentiostat .
• Mineral processing testing: Particle Size Separation test, Gravity Separation test, Float and Sink test, Magnetic Drum Separator, Bench Top Froth Flotation, Planetary Ball Mill, Sedimentation Column Test, Filtration Rate test.
• Orion Star Multi Meters pH/ORP/D.O./F.
• Static Column Leaching Setup (X6), 1 Liter.
• Static Column Leaching Setup (X6), 1 Liter .

Publications

• Liu, W., Sayem, A., Perez, J., Hornback, S., Owusu-Fordjour, E.Y., Yang, X.*, 2024 (2024). Mechanism investigation of food waste compost as a source of passivation agents for inhibiting pyrite oxidation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. Published, 12/2024.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.113465
• Liu, W., Rast, S., Wang, X., Lan,S., Owusu-Fordjour, E.Y., Yang, X.*, 2024. (2024). Enhanced Removal of Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn from Acid Mine Drainage Using Food Waste Compost and Its Mechanisms. Green and Smart Mining Engineering. Published, 11/2024.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsme.2024.09.002
• Owusu-Fordjour, E.Y., Yang, X.* 2023. (2023). Bioleaching of rare earth elements challenges and opportunities: A critical review. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. Published, 11/2023.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.110413
• Hasanizadeh, I., Khoshdast, H., Shojaei, V., Yang, X., Asgari, K. 2023. (2023). Flotation response of a bituminous coal sample in presence of a pyrolitic oil recycled from used car tires. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects. Published, 08/2023.
  https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2179696
• Nawab, A., Yang, X., and Honaker, R.Q., 2023. (2023). Parametric study of an acid baking process for rare earth element recovery from a bituminous-coal source. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization. Published, 07/2023.
  https://doi.org/10.1080/19392699.2023.2269094
• Lin, P., Werner, J., Groppo, J., and Yang, X. 2022. (2022). Material Characterization and Physical Processing of a General Type of Waste Printed Circuit Boards. Sustainability. Published, 09/2022.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013479
• Nawab, A., & Yang, X., and Honaker, R.Q. (2022). An acid baking approach to enhance heavy rare earth recovery from bituminous coal-based sources. Minerals Engineering. Published, 06/2022.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107610
• Nawab, A. & Yang, X., Honaker, R. (2022). Parametric study and speciation analysis of rare earth precipitation using oxalic acid in a chloride solution system. Minerals Engineering. Published, 01/01/2022.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107352
• Lin, P., Yang, X., Werner, J.M. and Honaker, R.Q. (2021). Application of Eh-pH Diagrams on Acid Leaching Systems for the Recovery of REEs from Bastnaesite, Monazite, and Xenotime. Metals. Published, 11/2021.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/met11050734
• Zhang, W., Noble, A., Yang, X., and Honaker, R.Q. (2020). A Comprehensive Review of Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Coal-Related Materials. Minerals. Published, 05/2020.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/min10050451
• Yang, X. and Honaker, R.Q. (2020). Leaching Kinetics of Rare Earth Elements from Fire Clay Seam Coal. Minerals. Published, 05/2020.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/min10060491
• Zhang, W., Noble, A., Yang, X., and Honaker, R. (2020). Lithium leaching recovery and mechanisms from density fractions of an Illinois Basin bituminous coal. Fuel. Published, 02/2020.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117319
• Huang, Q., Yang, X. and Honaker, R.Q. (2019). Evaluation of Frother Types for Improved Flotation Recovery and Selectivity. Minerals. Published, 09/2019.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/min9100590
• Yang, X., Werner, J. and Honaker, R.Q. (2018). Leaching of rare Earth elements from an Illinois basin coal source. Journal of Rare Earths. Published, 07/2018.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jre.2018.07.003
• Honaker, R.Q., Zhang, W., and Yang, X. (2018). Conception of an integrated flowsheet for rare earth elements recovery from coal coarse refuse,. Minerals Engineering. Published, 04/2018.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.04.005
• Zhang, W., Yang, X., and Honaker, R.Q. (2017). Association characteristic study and preliminary recovery investigation of rare earth elements from Fire Clay seam coal middlings. Fuel. Published, 11/2017.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.11.075