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
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.
2014
Journal Article
Determination of total mercury in bauxite and bauxite residue by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry
Bansal, Neetu, Vaughan, James, Boullemant, Amiel and Leong, Tony (2014). Determination of total mercury in bauxite and bauxite residue by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Microchemical Journal, 113, 36-41. doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2013.11.002
2014
Conference Publication
Batch tricalcium aluminate crystallisation and particle morphology
Salimi, Reza and Vaughan, James (2014). Batch tricalcium aluminate crystallisation and particle morphology. Hydrometallurgy 2014: 7th International Symposium, Victoria, BC, Canada, 22-25 June, 2014. Westmount, QC, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
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
2013
Other Outputs
Copper processing method
Hawker, William, Vaughan, James and Hayes, Peter (2013). Copper processing method. Australian Provisional Patent Application # 2013904688.
2013
Journal Article
Selective reductive leaching of an oxidised cobalt hydroxide containing residue
Chong, Sebastian, Hawker, William and Vaughan, James (2013). Selective reductive leaching of an oxidised cobalt hydroxide containing residue. Minerals Engineering, 54, 82-87. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.04.004
2013
Journal Article
Recovery of nickel and cobalt from laterite leach tailings through resin-in-pulp scavenging and selective ammoniacal elution
Littlejohn, Patrick and Vaughan, James (2013). Recovery of nickel and cobalt from laterite leach tailings through resin-in-pulp scavenging and selective ammoniacal elution. Minerals Engineering, 54, 14-20. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.02.002
2013
Journal Article
Selective leaching of nickel from mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide precipitate
Williams, Chelsea, Hawker, William and Vaughan, James William (2013). Selective leaching of nickel from mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide precipitate. Hydrometallurgy, 138, 84-92. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.05.015
2013
Conference Publication
Engineering aspects of the selective acid leaching process for refining mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide
Vaughan, J., Hawker, W., Keating, T. and Cox, J. (2013). Engineering aspects of the selective acid leaching process for refining mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide. 4th Annual Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Event, Perth, WA, Australia, 25 May-1 June 2013. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: ALTA Metallurgical Services.
2013
Conference Publication
Effect of carbon type on adsorption of Cu, Zn, Ag and Au from mixed cyanide solution
Lakemond, S., Ku, L. I. and Vaughan, J. (2013). Effect of carbon type on adsorption of Cu, Zn, Ag and Au from mixed cyanide solution. 5th World Gold 2013 Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26-29 September, 2013. Carlton, VIC, Australia: AusIMM: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2013
Conference Publication
The determination of trace mercury in environmental samples: a review
Bansal, Neetu, Vaughan, J., Boullemant, Amiel and Leong, Tony (2013). The determination of trace mercury in environmental samples: a review. Chemeca 2013: Challenging tomorrow, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 September–2 October, 2013. Barton, ACT, Australia: Institution of Engineers Australia.
2013
Conference Publication
Morphological investigation of sodium oxalate crystals grown in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution
Fu, Weng and Vaughan, James (2013). Morphological investigation of sodium oxalate crystals grown in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Light Metals 2013 - TMS 2013 142nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San Antonio, United States, 3-7 March 2013. Hoboken, NJ, New York: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118663189.ch34
2012
Other Outputs
Resin scavenging of nickel and cobalt
Littlejohn, Patrick and Vaughan, James (2012). Resin scavenging of nickel and cobalt. Australian Provisional Patent Application # 2012904011.
2012
Other Outputs
Method of processing a manganese containing material
Vaughan, James and Hawker, William (2012). Method of processing a manganese containing material. Australian Provisional Patent Application # 2012903193.
2012
Other Outputs
Method of material processing
Vaughan, James, Chong Lee Jin, Sebastian and Hawker, William (2012). Method of material processing. Australian Provisional Patent Application # 2012903194.
2012
Journal Article
Selectivity of commercial and novel mixed functionality cation exchange resins in mildly acidic sulfate and mixed sulfate-chloride solution
Littlejohn, Patrick and Vaughan, James (2012). Selectivity of commercial and novel mixed functionality cation exchange resins in mildly acidic sulfate and mixed sulfate-chloride solution. Hydrometallurgy, 121 (121-124), 90-99. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2012.04.001
2012
Other Outputs
Improved method of ore processing
Vaughan, James and Hawker, William (2012). Improved method of ore processing. WO2012100293 A1.
2012
Conference Publication
Resin-in-pulp for metalliferous mine drainage remediation
Littlejohn, P. and Vaughan, J. (2012). Resin-in-pulp for metalliferous mine drainage remediation. 51st Annual Conference of Metallurgists (COM 2012), Niagra, ON, Canada, 30 September - 3 October 2012.
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
Interactions of inorganic components in process water with gold
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yongjun Peng
-
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamental research on zeolite nucleation and particle growth
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improved Predictions of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage for Greenfield Projects Inform Better Design of Waste Rock Dumps
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mandana Shaygan, Professor Mansour Edraki
-
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
Interactions of organic components in process water with gold
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yongjun Peng
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Percrystallisation for Producing Cathode Active Material
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tony Howes, Dr Julius Motuzas
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Carbon-based Membranes for the Percrystallisation of Aqueous Salt Solutions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Julius Motuzas
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Fundamentals of sodium aluminosilicate precipitation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng
-
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
Fundamentals of Partial Pressure Oxidation of Gold Bearing Sulphide Minerals
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Master Philosophy
The Effect of Cations on Bayer Process Desilication and the Lithium Opportunity
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
-
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
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
-
2021
Master Philosophy
Diagnostic leaching of radionuclide containing copper concentrates
Associate Advisor
-
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
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
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Novel Percrystallisation Process by Inorganic Carbon Membranes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Julius Motuzas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor James Vaughan directly for media enquiries about:
- Hydrometallurgy
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