Overview
Background
Dr. Eric O.Ansah is a hydrometallurgist with geochemistry expertise focused on developing sustainable solutions for enhanced metal extraction and improved mine closure outcomes. His research integrates innovative technologies to advance eco-efficient mineral processing and mine waste repurposing.With extensive expertise in geochemistry, hydrometallurgy, and heap leaching, Eric has a proven track record in technology development. As part of BHP’s Think & Act Differently (TAD) Essential Minerals Cohort, he pioneered protonated brine lixiviant technology for copper heap leaching, stemming from his PhD research at the University of Melbourne on coupled chalcopyrite dissolution and reprecipitation. This work has driven advancements in sustainable metal extraction.
Eric’s research and projects encompass:
- Metals: Copper, gold,zinc, cobalt, uranium, rare earth elements (REE) etc.
- Applications: Metallurgical research, plant operations, and translating laboratory innovations into industrial applications.
- Focus: Sustainable heap and in-situ leaching, mine waste management through reuse and repurposing, and mineral carbonation for environmental benefits.
His interdisciplinary approach bridges research and industry, delivering solutions that balance economic and environmental goals. Eric collaborates globally to innovate mineral processing technologies, ensuring efficient resource recovery and responsible mine closure.
Availability
- Dr Eric O Ansah is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Minerals Engineering, University of Mines & Technology Tarkwa
- Masters (Research) of Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy, Kyushu University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne
Research interests
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Hydrometallurgy
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Geochemistry
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Electrometallurgy
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Mine waste
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Mineral carbonation
Works
Search Professor Eric O Ansah’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Impact of mineral dissolution-precipitation on pore geometry during copper sulphide heap leaching
Ansah, Eric O., Black, Jay R. and Haese, Ralf R. (2025). Impact of mineral dissolution-precipitation on pore geometry during copper sulphide heap leaching. Minerals Engineering, 230 109379, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109379
2025
Journal Article
A review and discussion on the influences of grain-coating clay minerals on water-rock interactions in sandstones
Li, Huan, Hu, Qinhong, Jones, Stuart, Gluyas, Jon, Ansah, Eric O., Menacherry, Saju, Wang, Qiqi and Ye, Tao (2025). A review and discussion on the influences of grain-coating clay minerals on water-rock interactions in sandstones. Earth-Science Reviews, 263 105073, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105073
2025
Journal Article
Coupled dissolution with reprecipitation (CDR) reactions and their impact on copper sulphide mineral surface area and dissolution rates
Ansah, Eric O., Black, Jay R. and Haese, Ralf R. (2025). Coupled dissolution with reprecipitation (CDR) reactions and their impact on copper sulphide mineral surface area and dissolution rates. Minerals, 15 (3) 214, 1-30. doi: 10.3390/min15030214
2024
Journal Article
Enhancement of copper mobilization using acidic AlCl3-rich lixiviant
Ansah, Eric O., Black, Jay R. and Haese, Ralf R. (2024). Enhancement of copper mobilization using acidic AlCl3-rich lixiviant. Minerals Engineering, 217 108953, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108953
2023
Journal Article
The importance of reaction mechanisms and coupled dissolution with reprecipitation (CDR) reactions when modelling copper leaching in heap systems
Ansah, Eric O., Jyoti, Apoorv, Black, Jay R. and Haese, Ralf R. (2023). The importance of reaction mechanisms and coupled dissolution with reprecipitation (CDR) reactions when modelling copper leaching in heap systems. Minerals Engineering, 203 108357, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108357
2022
Conference Publication
Copper leaching in low-grade ore: a reactive-transport modelling study revealing controls on local reactions on mineral surfaces
Jyoti, Apoorv, Ansah, Eric O., Black, Jay R. and Haese, Ralf R. (2022). Copper leaching in low-grade ore: a reactive-transport modelling study revealing controls on local reactions on mineral surfaces. 14th Annual Meeting InterPore, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 30 May - 2 June 2022.
2020
Journal Article
Microbe-induced fluid viscosity variation: field-scale simulation, sensitivity and geological uncertainty
Ansah, Eric O., Vo Thanh, Hung, Sugai, Yuichi, Nguele, Ronald and Sasaki, Kyuro (2020). Microbe-induced fluid viscosity variation: field-scale simulation, sensitivity and geological uncertainty. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 10 (5), 1983-2003. doi: 10.1007/s13202-020-00852-1
2020
Journal Article
Predicting the antagonistic effect between albite-anorthite synergy and anhydrite on chemical enhanced oil recovery: effect of inorganic ions and scaling
Ansah, Eric O., Nguele, Ronald, Sugai, Yuchi and Sasaki, Kyuro (2020). Predicting the antagonistic effect between albite-anorthite synergy and anhydrite on chemical enhanced oil recovery: effect of inorganic ions and scaling. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 42 (1), 21-32. doi: 10.1080/01932691.2019.1659149
2019
Conference Publication
Mechanistic modeling of MEOR as a sustainable recovery technology: coreflooding validation, sensitivity and field application
O. Ansah, Eric (2019). Mechanistic modeling of MEOR as a sustainable recovery technology: coreflooding validation, sensitivity and field application. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Calgery, AB, United States, 30 September - 2 October 2019. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/199770-stu
2018
Journal Article
Integrated microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) simulation: main influencing parameters and uncertainty assessment
Ansah, Eric O., Sugai, Yuichi, Nguele, Ronald and Sasaki, Kyuro (2018). Integrated microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) simulation: main influencing parameters and uncertainty assessment. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 171, 784-793. doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.08.005
2018
Journal Article
Modeling microbial-induced oil viscosity reduction: effect of temperature, salinity and nutrient concentration
Ansah, Eric O., Sugai, Yuichi and Sasaki, Kyuro (2018). Modeling microbial-induced oil viscosity reduction: effect of temperature, salinity and nutrient concentration. Petroleum Science and Technology, 36 (15), 1113-1119. doi: 10.1080/10916466.2018.1463253
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Eric O Ansah is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Copper leaching from low-grade ores for critical metal extraction.
Copper is pivotal to decarbonization efforts, specifically for the transition from petroleum-based to battery-based electric vehicles (EVs), the construction of wind turbines, and solar cells. Copper plays a key role in energy technology, defense, consumer electronics, and other applications. Yet, copper mobilization from primary copper sulphide minerals (e.g., chalcopyrite) is often hindered by the passivation of the mineral surface by secondary mineral formation. For example, the formation of these secondary minerals (e.g., jarosite) on a chalcopyrite mineral surface can occlude and/or adsorb specific ions (in this case, dissolved copper) from solution. However, whether all secondary mineral products lead to inhibition of copper dissolution from minerals such as chalcopyrite remains unclear. Therefore, my present study is deciphering specific secondary mineral products that can inhibit copper dissolution and enhance copper extraction from low-grade ores. The finidings here can be applied to the processing of other critcial minerals.
Media
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