Research Group Recent Publications (2017-2025)

Gold-Related Publications

  1. Teimouri, S., Potgieter, J. H., Billing, C., & Conradie, J. (2023). The feasibility of pyrite dissolution in the deep eutectic solvent ethaline: Experimental and theoretical study. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 392, 123468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.123468.
  2. Van Dyk, L. D., Mawire, G., Potgieter, J. H., & Dworzanowski, M. (2022). Selection of a suitable ligand for the supercritical extraction of gold from a low-grade refractory tailing. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 179, 105415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2021.105415.
  3. Teimouri, S., Potgieter, J. H., Simate, G. S., Van Dyk, L., & Dworzanowski, M. (2020). Oxidative leaching of refractory sulphidic gold tailings with an ionic liquid. Minerals Engineering, 156, 106484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106484.
  4. Teimouri, S., Potgieter, J. H., van Dyk, L., & Billing, C. (2022). The Kinetics of Pyrite Dissolution in Nitric Acid Solution. Materials, 15(12), 4181. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124181.
  5. Teimouri, S., Mawire, G., Potgieter, J. H., Simate, G. S., van Dyk, L., & Dworzanowski, M. (2020). Using experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize gold extraction from refractory sulphidic gold tailings with ionic liquids. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 120(7), 415-423. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/1068/2020.

Other Metal Extraction Publications

  1. Oke, E. A., Fedai, Y., & Potgieter, J. H. (2025). Hydrometallurgical Leaching of Copper and Cobalt from a Copper–Cobalt Ore by Aqueous Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent Solutions. Minerals, 15(8), 815. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080815.
  2. Oke, E.A., Potgieter, J.H. Effectiveness of acidic deep eutectic solvents in recovery of hazardous base metals from waste printed circuit boards. Environ Sci Pollut Res 32, 16361–16379 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36685-w.
  3. Oke, E. A., & Potgieter, J. H. (2025). Sustainable leaching of metals from waste printed circuit boards using efficient carboxylic acid-based deep eutectic solvents. Separation and Purification Technology, 133712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133712.
  4. Teimouri, S., Herman Potgieter, J., & Billing, C. (2025). A Comparison of the Electrochemical Oxidative Dissolution of Pyrite and Chalcopyrite in Dilute Nitric Acid Solution. ChemistryOpen, 14(5), e202400053. https://doi.org/10.1002/open.202400053.
  5. Oke, E.A., Potgieter, H. Recent chemical methods for metals recovery from printed circuit boards: A review. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 1349–1368 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-024-01944-4.
  6. Oke, E.A., Potgieter, H. Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 1277–1293 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-024-01917-7.
  7. Oke, E.A., Potgieter, H. Recent chemical methods for metals recovery from printed circuit boards: A review. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 1349–1368 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-024-01944-4.
  8. Oke, E. A., Potgieter, H., Mondlane, F., Skosana, N. P., Teimouri, S., & Nyembwe, J. K. (2024). Concurrent leaching of copper and cobalt from a copper–cobalt ore using sulfuric and organic acids. Minerals Engineering, 216, 108853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108853.
  9. Simonsen, H., Potgieter, J. H., Nyembwe, K. J., & Chuma, A. (2024). Can preconcentration of cassiterite from its pegmatite ore reduce processing costs and improve operational sustainability?. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 124(4), 201-207. https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2791/2024.
  10. Potgieter, H., & Teimouri, S. (2023). Investigation into the possibility of using a novel ionic liquid leaching method to obtain vanadium from vanadium slag. Environmental Research and Technology, 6(1), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.35208/ert.115062.
  11. Teimouri, S., Potgieter, J. H., Billing, C., Conradie, J., Lundstrom, M., & Wilson, B. P. (2023). Indium and gallium extraction using ionic liquids: experimental and theoretical study. World of Metallurgy-ERZMETALL, 76(3), 169-176. https://research.aalto.fi/en/publications/indium-and-gallium-extraction-using-ionic-liquids-experimental-an.
  12. Teimouri, S., Potgieter, J. H., Lundström, M., Billing, C., & Wilson, B. P. (2022). A New Hydrometallurgical Process for Metal Extraction from Electric Arc Furnace Dust Using Ionic Liquids. Materials, 15(23), 8648. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238648.
  13. Chen, Y., He, D., & Potgieter, J. H. (2022). Development and beneficiation technology of rare earth ores in China. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 122(3), 125-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/1098/2022.
  14. Mgbeahuruike, L. U., Barrett, J., Potgieter, H. J., van Dyk, L., & Potgieter-Vermaak, S. S. (2019). A comparison of batch, column and heap leaching efficiencies for the recovery of heavy metals from artificially contaminated simulated soil. Journal of Environmental Protection, 10(05), 632. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2019.105038.
  15. He, D. S., Chen, Y., Xiang, P., Yu, Z. J., & Potgieter, J. H. (2018). Study on the pre-treatment of oxidized zinc ore prior to flotation. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials, 25(2), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1554-2.
  16. Ola-Omole, O. O., Adewuyi, B. O., Potgieter, J. H., & Borode, J. O. (2016). Effect of microwave treatment on the grindabiliy of galena-sphalerite ores. Int. J. Latest Res. Eng. Technol, 2, 75-81. https://www.academia.edu/23172968/EFFECT_OF_MICROWAVE_TREATMENT_ON_THE_GRINDABILIY_OF_GALENA_SPHALERITE_ORES.

Water Treatment and Related Publications

  1. Ashiegbu, D. C., Enemuo, M., & Potgieter, H. (2025). Efficient degradation of organic and inorganic contaminants in water using a ZnO-based heterojunction photocatalyst. European Journal of Materials, 5(1), 2536462. https://doi.org/10.1080/26889277.2025.2536462.
  2. Patel, N. A., Oke, E. A., & Ijardar, S. P. (2025). Investigating Aqueous Two-Phase Systems Constituted by Benzyltributylammonium Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Efficient Extraction of Textile Dyes. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jced.5c00346.
  3. Ashiegbu, D. C., Pilane, P., Moma, J., & Potgieter, H. (2025). Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Cyanide in Mining Wastewater Using a ZnO-BiOI Heterojunction Catalyst. Surfaces, 8(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces8010003.
  4. Hachemi, H., Ashiegbu, D.C., Bettahar, N. et al. Temperature-controlled synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles: optimizing structural and photocatalytic properties for enhanced degradation of methylene blue dye. Reac Kinet Mech Cat (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-025-02931-y.
  5. Ashiegbu, D.C., Potgieter, H. Photocatalytic mediated destruction of 2-chlorobiphenyl by a ZnO-[10%]BiOI p-n heterojunction: effect of some process parameters. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 21, 4119–4132 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05262-4.
  6. Ashiegbu, D. C., Nkhoesa, D., Erasmus, R., & Potgieter, H. J. (2024). Efficient Photodegradation of Thiocyanate Ions in Mining Wastewater Using a ZnO-BiOI Heterojunction. Materials, 17(15), 3832. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153832.
  7. Ashiegbu, D. C., & Potgieter, H. J. (2023). ZnO-based heterojunction catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye. Heliyon, 9(10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20674.
  8. Ashiegbu, D. C., Moloto, N., & Potgieter, H. (2023). Improved photocatalytic activity of ZnO-[10%] BiOI and ZnO-[10%] WO 3 heterostructure in the destruction of 2-chlorobiphenyl. Environmental Science: Advances, 2(2), 325-338. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2VA00222A.
  9. Gordon, A., Leaper, M. C., Potgieter, H., Ashiegbu, D., & Sibanda, V. (2023). Treatment of Dark Humic Water Using Photocatalytic Advanced Oxidation (PAO) Processes under Visible and UV Light. Clean Technologies, 5(3), 852-865. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5030042.
  10. Potgieter, J.H., Pardesi, C. & Pearson, S. A kinetic and thermodynamic investigation into the removal of methyl orange from wastewater utilizing fly ash in different process configurations. Environ Geochem Health 43, 2539–2550 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00567-6
  11. Dai, D., Liang, H., He, D., Potgieter, H., & Li, M. (2021). Mn-doped Fe2O3/diatomite granular composite as an efficient Fenton catalyst for rapid degradation of an organic dye in solution. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 97(2), 329-339.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05452-3.
  12. Narain, A., Potgieter, J. H., Rencken, G. E., & Smith, J. (2021). Beneficiation of recycled process water at DRDGOLD’s ERGO plant, and its effect on gold recovery. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 121(7), 331-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/1442/2020.
  13. An, V., Potgieter, H., Usoltseva, N., Valiev, D., Stepanov, S., Pustovalov, A., Baryshnikov, A., Titov, M., & Dolinina, A. (2021). MoS2@ZnO Nanoheterostructures Prepared by Electrospark Erosion for Photocatalytic Applications. Nanomaterials, 11(1), 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010157.
  14. Potgieter-Vermaak, S. S., Mgbeahuruike, L. U., van Dyk, L., Barrett, J., & Potgieter, H. J. (2019). Washing and extraction of metals from contaminated soil constituents: implications for contaminated simulated soil and metallurgical wastes with different reagents. Journal of Environmental Protection, 10(05), 651. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2019.105039.
  15. Potgieter, J. H., Pearson, S., & Pardesi, C. (2018). Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of methylene blue using fly ash under batch, column, and heap leaching configurations. Coal combustion and gasification products, 10(2), 23-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.4177/CCGP-D-17-00011.1.