Research Projects
2021 - 2024
A surface chemistry approach to inhibition of particle-induced hydroxyl radicals generation
Sponsor: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | Principal Investigator: Dr. Barbara J. Arnold
How the free radicals damage our body cells?
Free radicals, Explained!
Water molecule interaction with Quartz-crystalline silica (001) hydroxylated surface
(Electron Depletion [Cyan color] and Electron Accumulation [Yellow color])
Interactions of water and oxygen molecules with Pyrite (100) surface
2019 - 2021
Recovery of phosphorus and rare earth elements from Florida phosphatic waste clay
Supporter: Florida Industrial & Phosphate Research Institute | Principal Investigator: Dr. QingQing Huang
• Over two billion tons of waste clay has been accumulated in Florida to date
• This reserve contains about 600 million tons of P and 600 thousand tons of REEs
• This reserve can satisfy a great portion of U.S. domestic demand for REEs and P
• Waste clay poses severe environmental problems along with economic loss
• Waste clay has been considered as an ultimate processing challenge in the industry
2019 - 2023
Flotation of Apatite from phosphatic waste clay – A multiscale investigation
Collaborators: Penn State University, University of Lorraine, West Virginia University | Principal Investigator: Amir Eskanlou
Al3+ and Mg2+ enhance the adsorption of fatty- and octanohydroxamic acid on apatite
Mg2+ is more favorable than Al3+ in apatite flotation using fatty- and hydroxamic acids
Na+ counter-ion contributes to the adsorption of fatty acid on bare apatite
Benzohydroxamate adsorbs stronger than octanohydroxamate in the presence of Mg2+
Fatty acid adsorbs more than hydroxamates on bare and Al3+/ Mg2+- apatite
The effect of dissolved multivalent metal ions/ species on the flotation of valuable minerals has been a long-standing mystery. The difficulties in the flotation separation of apatite, a semi-soluble salt-type P-rich mineral from carbonates, silicates, and clays as its major associated gangues, are generally attributed to the similarities in the surface properties, slime-coating and changes in the pulp rheological characteristics, and the effect of dissolved lattice metal ions. Unlike the two former factors, the latter has not been extensively and fundamentally studied so that its various aspects, as well as mechanisms of influence, remain to be addressed. In this study, we aim to explore the effect of Al3+ and Mg2+ metal ions on the flotation performance of apatite using fatty- and hydroxamic acid collectors. As such, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, zeta potential and XPS studies, UV-Vis adsorption tests, and micro-flotation experiments were conducted to investigate the different aspects of the matter.