
Lana AlaghaMissouri University of Science and Technology | Missouri S&T · Department of Mining Engineering
Lana Alagha
Doctor of Philosophy
About
60
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1,159
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Introduction
Additional affiliations
August 2012 - present
August 2012 - present
Education
December 2003 - January 2007
Publications
Publications (60)
This research study proposed a novel approach utilising AI models to predict the metallurgical performance of complex sulfide ore flotation. Five machine learning and artificial intelligence models were employed in this study, that is, Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Interference System (ANFIS), Mamdani Fu...
This study examined the electrodissolution mechanism of five impure sphalerite samples, which differ significantly in purity levels, along with their partially oxidized counterparts in a 0.5 M H2SO4. Partially oxidized samples were prepared through an incomplete leaching of sphalerite using H2SO4 with Fe2(SO4)3.H2O as an oxidizing agent. The origin...
Gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), and indium (In) are essential elements that are extensively used in high-technology products in many fields. These metals are listed as critical elements by many governments and private players because they face potential supply risks due to geopolitics and stockpiling. Gallium, germanium, and indium do not form primar...
As the global demand for tellurium (Te) increases, it is crucial to develop efficient recovery methods that consider existing supply streams. This research combines gravity separation and froth flotation processes to enhance the recovery of Te minerals from tailings produced during the beneficiation of copper porphyry ores. Prior to processing, a s...
This article reviews the processing of tellurium (Te), a critical mineral essential for a clean energy transition. Tellurium is typically obtained from copper anode slimes through electrolytic refinement, however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on Te production outside of this process. This article discusses potential alternative producti...
Tellurium (Te), a critical mineral for solar energy technologies, faces supply risk challenges that drive the development of diversified and robust production routes. This research focused on improving Te enrichment from copper tailings (CT) produced from copper porphyry (CP) ores processing, addressing the loss of ~90% of Te minerals to tailings i...
As freshwater resources are becoming scarce, the use of seawater as replacement of fresh water is appealing in order to make mineral processing operations more sustainable. Since froth stability plays a critical role in determining the performance of flotation operations, there is an urgent need to study the effect of frother dosage and seawater on...
On August 9-10, 2023, the Thomas J. O’Keefe Institute for Sustainable Supply of Strategic Minerals at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) hosted the third annual workshop on ‘Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals’. The workshop was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and was attended by 218 participants. 128 par...
The froth flotation process is extensively used for the selective separation of valuable base metal sulfides from uneconomic associated minerals. However, in this complex multiphase process, various parameters need to be optimized to ensure separation selectivity and peak performance. In this study, two machine learning (ML) models, artificial neur...
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) classified tellurium (Te) as a “critical mineral” for its importance to clean solar energy. A substantial increase in Te demand is projected to de-carbonize the electric energy systems. The mining and metallurgical industries must increase Te production from existing and inefficient supply chains. For example, 90% of...
This study aimed to investigate the potential of enrichment of rare-earth-bearing minerals in historic mine tailing using the froth flotation process. Characterization studies indicated that tailings contained 11,000 ppm of rare earth elements (REEs). The major mineral in the tailings was apatite at ~84%, which was associated with iron oxides (~16%...
Environmental noise characteristics are determined by factors besides its source. One such factor is reverberation time, which in city canyons tends to be high due to the reflective characteristics of materials commonly used in building facades. Incorporating sound absorbing materials into building facades can help improve urban environments. This...
Workshop Proceedings for the 2nd Annual National Workshop on the Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals hosted by Missouri University of Science and Technology on August 4-5, 2022.
In this work, polyacrylamide functionalized chitosan polymers (CS-PAMs) of different structural properties were synthesized and investigated as selective depressants of pyrite (FeS2) in the flotation process of galena (PbS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) from a complex sulfide ore. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design was applied...
On August 2-3, 2021, the Thomas J. O’Keefe Institute for Sustainable Supply of Strategic Minerals at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) hosted the NSF-funded virtual workshop ‘Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals’. The workshop was convened via Zoom and attracted 158 registrants, including 108 registrants from academia (6...
Phosphate mineral tailings have been sought after as a viable source of rare earth elements (REEs). The secondary occurrence of locked REEs within apatite grains makes phosphate froth flotation the most attractive beneficiation strategy to enrich REEs. In this study, magnetite-rich phosphate tailing samples were collected and characterized to inves...
In this study, chitosan-grafted-polyacrylamide (Chi-g-PAM), a synthetic biocompatible polymer was investigated as a selective depressant of iron sulfide minerals [i.e., pyrite (FeS2)] in the flotation process of base metal sulfide minerals [i.e., galena (PbS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), and sphalerite (ZnS)]. Chi-g-PAM was successfully synthesized by g...
The highly specialized materials needed for the de-carbonization of energy, smart devices and the internet of things have created supply concerns of critical elements used in these applications. Several critical elements are produced as by-products from base metal mining and processing. Increasing the capture of critical elements from existing oper...
Froth flotation process is extensively used for selective separation of base metal sulfides from uneconomic mineral resources. Reliable prediction of process outcomes (metal recovery and grade) is vital to ensure peak performance. This work employs an innovative hybrid machine learning (ML) model—constructed by combining the random forest model and...
In this study, the best possible location for an air deck in an explosive column during a surface blasting operation for the most efficient rock fragmentation is described. Volumes of air decks are proposed for the optimization. This study aims at helping guide blasting engineers to easily apply an air deck in a surface blasting operation.
As fresh water resources are becoming scarce, the use of seawater as replacement of fresh water is appealing in order to make mineral processing operations more sustainable. Since froth stability plays a critical role in determining concentrate grade and recovery in flotation operations, there is an urgent need to study the effect of seawater on fr...
Rare earth minerals (REMs) such as bastnaesite, monazite, and xenotime are of considerable significance since they are the main commercial sources for rare earth elements (REEs) with cutting-edge applications. Fundamental understanding of surface properties of REMs is essential to identify the reactions taking place at different interfaces to devel...
In the present work, two novel ammonium-based functional ionic liquids (FILs) with oxygen donating groups: trioctyl(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)ammonium dihexyl diglycolamate, [OcGBOEt][DHDGA], and tricaprylmethylammonium dihexyl diglycolamate, [A336][DHDGA] were synthesized and tested for the recovery and separation of rare earth elements from aqueous sol...
Sun is an inexhaustible source of energy capable of fulfilling all the energy needs of humankind. The energy from the sun can be converted into electricity or used directly. Electricity can be generated from solar energy either directly using photovoltaic (PV) cells or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP) technology. Progress has been ma...
In this study, five different machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models: random forest (RF), artificial neural networks (ANN), the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), Mamdani fuzzy logic (MFL) and a hybrid neural fuzzy inference system (HyFIS) were employed to predict the flotation behavior of fine high ash coal in th...
Froth flotation is a process in which valuable minerals are separated from gangue minerals on the basis of surface wettabilities. It is a universally accepted process for the beneficiation of coal. The large amount of coal fines that have been generated from both mining and beneficiation processes has been reported as a chronic problem to both fine...
Efficient destabilization of colloidal dispersions is the top challenge facing solid-liquid separation processes. In this study, an in-house synthesized environmentally friendly graft copolymer, chitosan-graft-polyacrylamide (chi-g-PAM), was investigated as a potential flocculant of fine kaolin dispersions. Chi-g-PAM was successfully prepared by co...
Wastes produced from the phosphate industry presents many challenges due to the high economic and environmental impacts involved with their disposal. However, the relative scarcity of high-grade phosphate ores has driven researchers to recover and recycle these valuable wastes (secondary sources). The goal of this study was to investigate the possi...
In this study, chitosan polymer was tested as a potential selective green depressant of pyrite in the bulk flotation of galena (PbS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) from sphalerite (ZnS) and pyrite (FeS 2 ) using sodium isopropyl xanthate as a collector and 4-methyl-2-pentanol (MIBC) as a frother. Flotation tests were carried out in a D12-Denver flotat...
An artificial neural network was used to investigate the potential of using a novel polymer aid to produce clean coal concentrates in a fine clayey coal flotation process. Fine coal particles in the size range of +38-75 µm with 25.12 wt% of ash were floated in the presence of Al(OH)3-polyacrylamide nanoparticles. Five parameters; polymer dosage, pH...
Separation and purification techniques are applied in many important fields, such as in the medical, chemical, metallurgical, environmental, and pharmaceutical industries. Recent advances in separation science and the urgent need for highly selective purification have necessitated a rapid progress with respect to the reagents, chemicals and surfact...
Adsorption kinetics of organic-inorganic (hybrid) Al(OH)3-polyacrylamide (Al-PAM) with different molecular weights (for organic characteristics) and contents of aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles (for inorganic characteristics) on kaolinite basal planes was studied using a versatile quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The flocculati...
The current study investigated the effects of novel hybrid polyacrylamide polymers as ash (slime) depressants in fine coal flotation to enhance combustible recovery and ash rejection. Coal samples at P80 of approximately 45 um with ~25% ash content were floated in the presence of in-house synthesized hybrid aluminum hydroxide polyacrylamide polymer...
Adsorption of two in-house synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid polymers, Al(OH)(3)-polyacrylamide (Al-PAM) and Fe(OH)(3)-polyacrylamide (Fe-PAM) on kaolin and corresponding flocculation of fluid fine kaolin suspensions were investigated. For comparison, a commercial anionic flocculant (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or known as H-PAM) was als...
In bitumen recovery from oil sands, a percentage of the bitumen is lost to tailings. The effect of fugitive bitumen on fines settling and consolidation in tailings ponds remains controversial. In the current study, the settling performance of mature fine tailings (MFT) in response to flocculant addition was considered by studying MFT of varying bit...
Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was applied to investigating the adsorption characteristics of polyacrylamide-based polymers (PAMs) on anisotropic basal planes of kaolinite. Kaolinite basal planes were differentiated by depositing kaolinite nanoparticles (KNPs) on silica and alumina sensors in solutions of controlled pH values....
Adsorption kinetics of an organic–inorganic hybrid polymer, Al(OH)3–polyacrylamide (Al-PAM), on silica and alumina were studied by a dissipative quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D). The effects of molecular weight and aluminum content of Al-PAM on its adsorption at varying solution pH were investigated. For comparison, the adsorption of a commercia...