Wencai Zhang
· Associate professorVirginia Tech · Mining and Minerals Engineering
Active 2002–2025
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About
Wencai Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Mining and Minerals Engineering department at Virginia Tech. His research interests include the recovery and purification of rare earth elements from coal-related materials, flotation surface chemistry of various minerals such as rare earth, sulfide, carbonate, silicate, and oxide minerals, as well as the processing and beneficiation of low-grade, finely-dispersed ores. He also focuses on recycling and utilization of industrial and urban wastes, and employs molecular dynamics and DFT simulation techniques to study chemical adsorption on mineral and material surfaces. He holds a Ph.D. in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky, obtained in 2017, a master's degree in mineral processing engineering from Central South University in 2013, and a bachelor's degree in mineral processing engineering from Shandong University of Science and Technology in 2011. Zhang has contributed to numerous publications in the field, exploring topics such as rare earth recovery, flotation separation, and leaching processes. He is involved in teaching courses related to mineral processing and materials handling at Virginia Tech.
Research topics
- Chemistry
- Materials science
- Organic chemistry
- Mineralogy
- Metallurgy
- Waste management
- Environmental science
- Engineering
- Nuclear chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
Selected publications
A Comprehensive Review of Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Coal-Related Materials
Minerals · 2020 · 182 citations
1st authorCorrespondingMany studies have been published in recent years focusing on the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from coal-related materials, including coal, coal refuse, coal mine drainage, and coal combustion byproducts particularly fly ash. The scientific basis and technology development have been supported by coal geologists and extractive metallurgists, and through these efforts, the concept has progressed from feasibility assessment to pilot-scale production over the last five years. Physical benef…
Progress in Energy and Combustion Science · 2021 · 163 citations
Fuel · 2020 · 117 citations
1st authorCorrespondingEffects of contaminant metal ions on precipitation recovery of rare earth elements using oxalic acid
Journal of Rare Earths · 2020 · 83 citations
1st authorCorrespondingMinerals Engineering · 2025-04-23 · 20 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding• Leaching of Mg, Si , Fe, Co, and Ni was enhanced by microwave-assisted leaching. • Microwave-assisted method enabled lower acid consumption within a very short time. • The Avrami model governed the leaching kinetics of elements. • Activation energy values confirmed the diffusion-controlled leaching process. Olivine, a silicate ultramafic rock, has been a promising primary resource of nickel and cobalt for the past years. Microwave-assisted leaching of selected elements, namely magnesium (Mg),…
Frequent coauthors
- 26 shared
Rick Honaker
University of Kentucky
- 24 shared
Bin Ji
Virginia Tech
- 11 shared
Duanling Li
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
- 10 shared
Aaron Noble
Virginia Tech
- 10 shared
Jiacan Su
XinHua Hospital
- 10 shared
Kunmao Li
- 9 shared
Shengfeng Zhou
Jinan University
- 7 shared
Hongqiang Li
Wuhan Institute of Technology
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