MISSION

Minerals Modelling and Processing (MMP) group driven by research-oriented graduates and innovative researchers:

• We provide research excellence in minerals and reagents design

• We enhance minerals separation through computational modelling and experimental techniques and

• We strive to strengthen and maintain partnerships and collaboration with academic institutions and industry

Welcome to Peace Mkhonto's Minerals Modelling & Processing (MMP) Group website. We are an interdisciplinary research group under the Minerals Cluster at the Materials Modelling Centre (MMC) in the University of Limpopo. The MMP Group sits on the interface of Physics, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Machine Learning, Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, and specializes in the design and development of new reagents (collectors and depressants) – connecting computational modelling and mineral processing to improve the separation and recovery of minerals. We investigate the interaction of reagents with mineral surfaces to predict at multiscale materials modeling approaches, including first-principles DFT calculations, AIMD and MD simulations, to unravel structure, property, performance, surface reactivity relationships in solid-state materials and minerals. Our research work is multidisciplinary, encompassing major contributions to the deeper understanding of surface interactions with a wide range of reagents and atomistic processes in minerals materials, especially Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs), Base Metal Sulphides (BMSs), Lithium mineral for energy, metal carbonate minerals, and critical mineral beneficiation. We perform flotation experiments to test the designed and synthesized reagents to further develop a deeper fundamental understanding of minerals recovery through flotation and to validate the computational predictions advancing the proof of concepts between computational modelling and flotation experiments. We also interact closely with leading experimental research groups nationally and internationally to guide and be inspired by state-of-the-art studies of minerals processing, and to validate reagents efficiency properties and their performance enhancement in minerals separations. 

Base Metal Sulphides (BMSs)

Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs)

Lithium Minerals (LMs)

Funding Agencies and Partners