Collaboration with global mining leader to strengthen silver recovery

Chelsea Seeber

10 Mar 2026

A professor and two students work in a mining and minerals lab at a bench with water testing — (From left) Zhen Shao, Kaiwu Huang, and Victor Akinlosose conduct flotation experiments in the lab as part of a new research agreement with Hindustan Zinc Limited, one of the world’s leading zinc and silver producers. Photo by Chelsea Seeber for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech’s Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering launched a new research agreement with Hindustan Zinc Limited, one of the world’s top zinc and silver producers, to improve silver recovery across its lead-zinc processing plants in India.

The collaboration will focus on advancing the science behind flotation. The process is used to separate valuable minerals from ore, increasing silver recovery, improving concentrate quality, and strengthening the overall performance of the precious metal.

This is important because today’s demand for silver goes far beyond the jewelry box — it’s become a cornerstone of the modern economy. Silver powers solar panels, electric vehicles, medical equipment, and the handheld devices we use every day. And as demand for renewable energy and advanced technologies increases, so does the need to recover critical minerals more efficiently and responsibly.

“This international partnership between Virginia Tech and Hindustan Zinc reflects collaboration that drives meaningful global impact,” said Aaron Noble, head of the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering. “By working directly with industry, we can apply our cutting-edge research on mineral recovery to real operational challenges and opportunities. Our goal is to translate discovery into more efficient resource use and tangible benefits for the global mining sector.”

Graduate student works with water sample in mining lab as part of a silver recovery international collaboration — Graduate student Victor Akinlosose is one of many students that will benefit from the hands-on learning opportunities through research partnership with Hindustan Zinc Limited. Photo by Chelsea Seeber for Virginia Tech.

Close up view of a water droplet on mining lab equipment — Researchers analyze the shape of a water droplet, specifically the contact angle it forms, to determine properties like reagent–mineral interactions. Photo by Chelsea Seeber for Virginia Tech.

Advancing recovery through science

Through the multi-year project, researchers will explore the scientific drivers behind silver losses in Hindustan Zinc’s lead–zinc plants and develop strategies to improve recovery. Faculty members on the research team include:

Kaiwu Huang, assistant professor, mining and minerals engineering
Aaron Noble, the Charles T. Holland Professor and department head, mining and minerals engineering, interim department head, materials science and engineering
Roe-Hoan Yoon, University Distinguished Professor, mining and minerals engineering

The agreement offers new experiential learning and workforce development opportunities. Faculty members and students will collaborate with Hindustan Zinc’s technical teams through workshops, training sessions, and technical exchanges focused on plant optimization and processing.

The effort aims to:

Improve overall silver recovery across current plant configurations while preparing for variability in future ore types
Address metallurgical constraints that limit recovery of silver, lead, and zinc
Define short- and long-term operating strategies to sustain improvements in recovery and concentrate quality
Support implementation through diagnostics and laboratory evaluation

“This project allows us to bring fundamental research on reagent–mineral interactions directly into an operating plant environment,” said Huang, whose research focuses on mineral processing and who will play a key role in leading the project. “By understanding the mechanisms that control flotation selectivity and efficiency, we can design strategies that improve recovery while supporting more sustainable and resilient operations.”

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) first reached out to Virginia Tech because of the internationally recognized expertise in this technical area and previous work with University Distinguished Professor Roe-Hoan Yoon.

"HZL's leadership was already familiar with the pioneering work happening here in the department," said Noble. "After reconnecting in fall 2025, we held a series of discussions to better understand their challenge and define how our research strengths could deliver a meaningful, data-driven solution."

Building global partnerships and workforce expertise

The agreement offers opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges tied to global supply chains and the changing landscape of energy needs.

“We believe the next phase of growth in the metals and mining sector will be powered by science, innovation, and collaboration,” said Hindustan Zinc CEO Arun Misra. “Our partnership with Virginia Tech represents an important step in strengthening our knowledge ecosystem and preparing our operations for the future. By working with leading global institutions, we continue to build capabilities that will define the next generation of mining excellence.”