Hong (Marco) Peng

By integrating advanced chemistry, whole‑of‑ore utilisation, and sustainable processing pathways, the research aims to lead a team to increase resource efficiency and reduce waste in critical minerals processing.

Pilot Plant Studies for Synthesis Zeolites from Clay and Spodumene Metallurgy Tailings. Synthetic Low-cost and Impurity-free Zeolites from Clay and Mining Tailings for Carbon Capture. Degradation of flotation xanthate residue in waste water via nanobubble. Utilization of Bauxite residue as feeder for functional materials. Course coordinator and lecturer in Chemical Thermodynamics (CHEE 3003) Vice Chair for Recycling and Environmental Technologies Committee, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Academic Representative(UQ) of the Joint Chemical Engineering Committee (JCEC) Queensland.

Projects and Grants: Value-Added Products from Rare-earth contained Kaolin, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer,2025-2026 Chemical Beneficiation of High Silica Bauxite Through Thermal Activation-Stage 1, Ma'aden & JKTech,2025 Value-Added Process for utilization of silica-dominated chloride stream, Rio Tinto Innovation,2025-2026 Sustainable Process for High Purity Alumina Production from Kaolin, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer,2024-2025 ARC Research Hub of Photovoltaic Solar Panel Recycling and Sustainability (PVRS),2025-2030 An Operando Characterisation Platform for Clean Energy Transition, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) Grant, 2024- Service and Engagement Chair, Recycling and Environmental Technologies Committee,The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS),2024-2026 Lead-Organizer, Advances in Recycling and Environmental Technologies Symposium, TMS 2026 https://www.tms.org/TMS2026 Associate Editor-Sustainable Materials and Technologies, Elsevier, 2024- https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/sustainable-materials-and-technologies

Developing low-cost and impurity-free technology for clay-to-zeolite process. (2020–2023) Production of synthetic zeolites (2020–2022) Academic Representative(UQ) of the Joint Chemical Engineering Committee (JCEC) Queensland. JOM Advisor for Hydrometallurgy and Electrometallurgy Committee

This T&R Academic role enhances industry engagement given the strong industry focus after Advance Queensland (AQ) Fellows (Early-Career). The research will focus on the recent patented technology on synthesis of value-added products from clay minerals or tailing. Projects and Research Grants: 1. Developing low-cost and impurity-free technology for clay-to-zeolite process. 2020-2023, Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships(Mid-Career),(Leading CI) 2.Green synthesis of adsorption materials from clay minerals, 2019-2020, UniQuest Pathfinder(Leading CI) 3. Effect of Leaching Process on Distribution of Minor Valuable Elements in Bauxite Residue, 2019-2020, Shanghai Synchrotron Access Program ( Leading CI) 4. Synthesis of high purity alumina from kaolin, Industry funding, 2019-2020 Stage 1&2, Abercorn Kaolin Limited &Metal Search, (Industry fund, CI) Academic Service and Awards: • Committee member for Hydrometallurgy and Electrometallurgy, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), 2019‐ • JOM Advisor and guest topic editors, “Electrometallurgical Processing” ; “Bauxite to Aluminium: Advances, Automation, and Alternative Processes”; Journal of Minerals, Metals & Materials (JOM), 2019‐ •Member, American Chemical Society, 2018- • Member, Queensland Chinese Association of Scientists and Engineers, 2017- • TMS Young Leaders Award of EPD, 2020 • UQ Amplify Fellowship, 2019‐2021 • Travel award for Universitas 21 Early Career Researcher workshop, Shanghai, 2018

The fellowship is to unlock Queensland's bauxite ore reserves through process technology innovation. In collaboration with Rio Tinto through the University of Queensland Rio Tinto Bauxite and Alumina Technology Centre, the project will look to enhance Queensland’s bauxite mineral reserves. The research is also expected to deliver environmental improvements by minimising reagent use and reducing waste generation during alumina production.

1 UQ RTA Bauxite & Alumina Technology Centre with project on Integration of a modified pre-desilication process route for Bayer Process. 2 Working in the fundamental research on Molecular Scale Phenomena of Vapour-Liquid-Solid Interfaces, especially on effect of dissolved gas in solution on hydrophobic force for minerals processing.

Working in Olympic Dam Expansion (ODX) group for various projects on uranium leaching and thickener modelling.

Working in Newcastle Technology Center for various hydrometallurgy process development on ilmenite, nickel laterite, uranium leaching.

PhD Thesis:Nanobubbles and Molecular Scale Phenomena of Vapour-Liquid-solid Interfaces

• Excellent Master Thesis of Central South University • Excellent Master Thesis of Hunan Province

• Excellent Bachelor Thesis of Central South University