Zhenghe XU, Chair Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, recently received the Antoine M. Gaudin Award.

Presented by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), this prestigious award is one of the highest academic honors in the field of mineral processing science and engineering. It recognizes scientists who have made pioneering contributions in mineral resource extraction, green separation technologies, and sustainable development.

Dr. James Gebhardt presenting the award to Zhenghe XU

Zhenghe XU has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to developing interfacial materials that improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in oil sands extraction systems. He is the first recipient from a Chinese mainland university in the award’s 50-year history and only the second Chinese scientist ever to receive this honor, following Professor Rongyu WAN of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

Professor XU has been at the forefront of mineral separation science, dedicating his career to advancing interfacial materials, mineral processing, resource recycling, and new energy materials. His work has driven innovations in green and low-carbon technologies, offering transformative solutions for the extraction of critical metals and the development of low-grade mineral resources.

The fine particle flotation technology and high-efficiency recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries that he developed have been successfully adopted by mining and resource recycling industries in China, the United States, Canada, and other countries, significantly reducing both energy consumption and environmental impact.

The Antoine M. Gaudin Award is one of the highest honors in the field of mineral processing. Established in 1975, it is named after Antoine M. Gaudin, a founding figure in modern mineral processing and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

Presented annually by SME, the award recognizes one scientist who has made groundbreaking contributions to the field. Past recipients include leading experts such as Professor D.W. Fuerstenau from the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Graeme Jameson from the University of Newcastle, Australia, Professor James Finch from McGill University, Canada, and Professor Cyril O’Connor from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Professor XU’s recognition with this award highlights the leading role of Chinese scientists in advancing resource efficiency and green mining technologies on the global stage.