Overview
Background
Biography:
Associate Professor James Vaughan is the Chemical Engineering Metallurgy Major Lead and Leader of the Hydrometallurgy Research Group. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University followed by Master of Applied Science and PhD degrees in Materials Engineering at The University of British Columbia in Canada. Before joining UQ, James gained industrial metallurgical process research and development experience with Glencore, Barrick and BHP. While at UQ, James served as Director of the University of Queensland Rio Tinto Bauxite & Alumina Technology Centre and has been Lead Chief Investigator of Australian Research Council Linkage and Discovery Projects. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the Advanced Materials and Batteries Council (AMBC).
Research:
James' research focuses on the fundamental aspects of leaching, ion exchange and precipitation reactions as well as membrane separations. These projects are of interest to the base metals, precious metals and alumina refining industries as well as in the fabrication of value added materials such as lithium ion battery cathode precursors and zeolites.
Current Projects:
- Extracting Queensland's rare earth elements sustainably (Queensland Department of Resources)
- Copper process innovations (UniQuest)
- New approach for producing zeolites from clay or mine tailings (Zeotech)
- Inorganic membrane percrystallisation in hydrometallurgy (ARC Discovery)
- Improving pressure oxidation for refractory gold (Newmont)
- Effects of solution impurities on gold leaching (Newmont and BHP ARC Linkage)
- Recycling vanadium catalyst (QEM Critical Minerals Trailblazer)
- Purification of battery metal solution (Lanxess Critical Minerals Trailblazer)
- Recycling batteries (V Resource)
Teaching and Learning:
- Hydrometallurgy and Electrometallurgy (METL6204)
- Metal Production and Recycling (METL2201)
Availability
- Associate Professor James Vaughan is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of British Columbia
Research interests
-
Hydrometallurgy
leaching, precipitation, crystallisation, ion exchange, membranes, electrowinning
Research impacts
My research in hydrometallurgy is used for process development and improvements. Examples of contributions are as follows:
- Selective acid leach process for refining mixed Ni-Co hydroxide precipitate licensed to Pure Battery Technologies
- Low cost zeolite production technology licensed to Zeotech
- New approaches for bauxite impurity management in the production of alumina
- A hydrometallurgical route for recovering Ni and K from agromined bio-ore
- The synergistic copper process
Works
Search Professor James Vaughan’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Conference Publication
The extractive metallurgy of agromined nickel
Vaughan, J., Hawker, W., Chen, J. and van der Ent, A. (2016). The extractive metallurgy of agromined nickel. XXVIII International Mineral Processing Congress, Quebec, Canada, 11-15 September 2016. Quebec, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2016
Journal Article
Crystallisation of tricalcium aluminate from sodium aluminate solution using slaked lime
Salimi, Reza and Vaughan, James (2016). Crystallisation of tricalcium aluminate from sodium aluminate solution using slaked lime. Powder Technology, 294, 472-483. doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2016.03.017
2016
Journal Article
In situ AFM investigation of gibbsite growth in high ionic strength, highly alkaline, aqueous media
Fu, Weng, Vaughan, James and Gillespie, Alistair (2016). In situ AFM investigation of gibbsite growth in high ionic strength, highly alkaline, aqueous media. Hydrometallurgy, 161, 71-76. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.01.030
2016
Journal Article
Mechanisms of polyacrylate modified sodium oxalate crystallization from highly alkaline solutions
Fu, Weng, Vaughan, James, Gillespie, Alistair and Aroff, Nabilah Mohamed (2016). Mechanisms of polyacrylate modified sodium oxalate crystallization from highly alkaline solutions. Crystal Growth and Design, 16 (3), 1519-1530. doi: 10.1021/acs.cgd.5b01645
2016
Conference Publication
Effect of key parameters on the selective acid leach of nickel from mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide
Byrne, Kelly, Hawker, William and Vaughan, James (2016). Effect of key parameters on the selective acid leach of nickel from mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide. International Process Metallurgy Conference, Bandung, Indonesia, 10-11 December 2016. MELVILLE: International Process Metallurgy Conference. doi: 10.1063/1.4974412
2016
Conference Publication
Stabilisation of mercury during Bayer process digestion
Staun, Chris, Vaughan, James and Morrison, Helen (2016). Stabilisation of mercury during Bayer process digestion. International Mineral Processing Congress, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, 11-15 September 2016. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada: Canadian Institute Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2016
Conference Publication
Using municipal solid waste for biogenic hydrogen sulphide production
Patel, M., Vaughan, J. and Clarke, W. (2016). Using municipal solid waste for biogenic hydrogen sulphide production. Chemeca Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 25-28 September 2016. Melbourne, Australia: Engineers Australia.
2016
Conference Publication
The synergistic copper process - a new process route for low-energy copper production
Hawker, William, Vaughan, James, Jak, Evgueni and Hayes, Peter C. (2016). The synergistic copper process - a new process route for low-energy copper production. Copper 2016, Kobe Japan, 14-16 December 2016. Kobe, Japan: The Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan.
2015
Journal Article
Agromining: farming for metals in the future?
van der Ent, Antony, Baker, Alan J. M., Reeves, Roger D., Chaney, Rufus L., Anderson, Christopher W. N., Meech, John A., Erskine, Peter D., Simonnot, Marie-Odile, Vaughan, James, Morel, Jean Louis, Echevarria, Guillaume, Fogliani, Bruno, Rongliang, Qiu and Mulligan, David R. (2015). Agromining: farming for metals in the future?. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (8), 4773-4780. doi: 10.1021/es506031u
2015
Journal Article
In situ AFM investigation of heterogeneous nucleation and growth of sodium oxalate on industrial gibbsite surfaces in concentrated alkaline solution
Fu, Weng, Vaughan, James and Gillespie, Alistair (2015). In situ AFM investigation of heterogeneous nucleation and growth of sodium oxalate on industrial gibbsite surfaces in concentrated alkaline solution. Chemical Engineering Science, 126, 399-405. doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2014.12.057
2015
Journal Article
Aspects of the mechanism of nucleation and intergrowth of gibbsite crystals on sodium oxalate surfaces in concentrated alkaline solutions
Fu, Weng, Vaughan, James and Gillespie, Alistair (2015). Aspects of the mechanism of nucleation and intergrowth of gibbsite crystals on sodium oxalate surfaces in concentrated alkaline solutions. Crystal Growth and Design, 15 (1), 374-383. doi: 10.1021/cg501465v
2015
Conference Publication
The thermodynamic approach to predicting silicate solubility
Peng, H., Vaughan, J. and Zieba, M. (2015). The thermodynamic approach to predicting silicate solubility. 10th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Perth, WA, Australia, 19-23 April 2015. AQW Incorporated.
2015
Journal Article
Properties of Lewatit® TP272, a commercial solvent impregnated cation exchange resin for cobalt recovery
Vaughan, James, Dieters, Caleb, Fu, Weng and Byrne, Kelly (2015). Properties of Lewatit® TP272, a commercial solvent impregnated cation exchange resin for cobalt recovery. Minerals Engineering, 88, 2-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.07.005
2014
Journal Article
Solubility of tricalcium aluminate in synthetic spent Bayer liquor
Salimi, Reza, Vaughan, James and Peng, Hong (2014). Solubility of tricalcium aluminate in synthetic spent Bayer liquor. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 53 (44), 17499-17505. doi: 10.1021/ie502693p
2014
Journal Article
Effects of inorganic anions on the morphology of sodium oxalate crystallized from highly alkaline solutions
Fu, Weng, Vaughan, James and Gillespie, Alistair (2014). Effects of inorganic anions on the morphology of sodium oxalate crystallized from highly alkaline solutions. Crystal Growth and Design, 14 (4), 1972-1980. doi: 10.1021/cg5000952
2014
Other Outputs
Copper processing
Hawker, William, Vaughan, James, Hayes, Peter and Jak, Evgueni (2014). Copper processing. Australian Provisional Patent # 2014900280.
2014
Journal Article
Selective elution of nickel and cobalt from iminodiacetic acid cation exchange resin using ammoniacal solutions
Littlejohn, Patrick and Vaughan, James (2014). Selective elution of nickel and cobalt from iminodiacetic acid cation exchange resin using ammoniacal solutions. Hydrometallurgy, 141, 24-30. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.10.009
2014
Conference Publication
Sodium oxalate growth on industrial gibbsite with in-situ optical microscopy
Fu, Weng and Vaughan, James (2014). Sodium oxalate growth on industrial gibbsite with in-situ optical microscopy. Hydrometallurgy 2014: 7th International Symposium, Victoria, BC, Canada, 22-25 June, 2014. Westmount, QC, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2014
Conference Publication
A synergistic hydro- and pyro-metallurgical process for low-energy copper production
Hawker, William, Vaughan, James, Hayes, Peter, Jak, Evgueni, Keating, Tony and Hourn, Mike (2014). A synergistic hydro- and pyro-metallurgical process for low-energy copper production. ALTA 2014: Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 24-31 May, 2014. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: ALTA Metallurgical Services Publications.
2014
Conference Publication
Chemical thermodynamics of mercury in the Bayer process
Bansal, Neetu, Vaughan, James, Tam Wai Yin, Pritii, Leong, Tony and Boullemant, Amiel (2014). Chemical thermodynamics of mercury in the Bayer process. Hydrometallurgy 2014: 7th International Symposium, Victoria, BC, Canada, 22-25 June, 2014. Westmount, QC, Canada: Canadian Institute Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor James Vaughan is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impurity control in Rare Earth Element Processing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ummul Sultana
-
Doctor Philosophy
Inorganic membrane percrystallisation in hydrometallurgy
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Percrystallisation in Hydrometallurgy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tony Howes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Interactions of inorganic components in process water with gold
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yongjun Peng
-
Doctor Philosophy
CO2 Mineralization with Metals Extraction : A Pathway to CO2 Sequestration Commercialization
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone, Associate Professor Karen Steel
-
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamental research on zeolite nucleation and particle growth
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Carbon-based Membranes for the Percrystallisation of Aqueous Salt Solutions
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamentals of sodium aluminosilicate precipitation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamentals of Partial Pressure Oxidation of Gold Bearing Sulphide Minerals
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Increasing Desilication Product Particle Size to Enable its Physical Separation from Bayer Residue
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Sintering Method for Recycling Sodium and Aluminium from Bayer Desilication Product: Reaction Mechanisms and Novel Process Development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Hayes
-
2020
Master Philosophy
The Effect of Cations on Bayer Process Desilication and the Lithium Opportunity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
-
2017
Master Philosophy
Stabilisation of Mercury to a Non-Volatile Phase in Bayer Process Digestion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor William Clarke
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
A novel low-energy process route for primary copper production utilising synergistic hydro- and pyro-metallurgical processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Hayes
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Crystallisation of tricalcium aluminate for use as a Bayer liquor filter aid
Principal Advisor
-
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Mercury Deportment in the Bayer Process and Highly Alkaline Solution Electrochemistry
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Recovery of nickel and cobalt from laterite tailings through scavenging with ion exchange resin and selective ammoniacal elution
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Hayes
-
2021
Master Philosophy
Diagnostic leaching of radionuclide containing copper concentrates
Associate Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
A novel and sustainable process for the recovery of nickel from laterite ores with concomitant sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karen Steel
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Strategies for nickel and cobalt recovery from mine-impacted water using sulfate-reducing bacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gordon Southam, Dr Denys Villa Gomez
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Novel Percrystallisation Process by Inorganic Carbon Membranes
Associate Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Using Municipal Solid Waste as a Carbon Source for Biogenic H2S production
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ilje Pikaar, Dr Denys Villa Gomez, Professor William Clarke
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor James Vaughan directly for media enquiries about:
- Hydrometallurgy
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