Yanan Pan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mining Engineering (Joint Appointment Materials Engineering)

My research focuses on sustainable critical mineral extraction and resource recovery from unconventional and underutilized resources. I develop advanced materials and separation processes for the selective recovery of critical minerals, particularly lithium and rare earth elements, from brines, produced water, and mining-related waste streams. My work integrates adsorption, interfacial chemistry, separation science, and process engineering to improve resource efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability.

Critical Mineral Extraction and Processing

Selective Separation and Recovery

Extractive Metallurgy and Metal Refining

Advanced Functional Materials

Sustainable Resource Recovery

Carbon Mineralization

Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ., Mining & Minerals Engineering, 2026

M.S. East China University of Science and Technology, 2023

B.S. Jiangsu University of Technology, 2020

MNG 699 – Hydrometallurgy, Fall 2026

1. Pan, Y., Zhang, Y., Liu, G., Zhan, W., Zhang, W. Selective Lithium Recovery via Photothermal Evaporation and Hydration‐Controlled Adsorption. Advanced Science, 2026, e20066. (IF = 14.1)
2. Pan, Y., Zhang, Y., Thompson, C., Liu, G., Zhang, W. Electro-spun Lithium Porous Nano-sorbent Fibers for Enhanced Lithium Adsorption and Sustainable Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2024. (IF = 8.2)
3. Pan Y., Ji B., Zhang W. Charge transfer-driven enhanced lithium extraction using poly(acrylic) acid-modified layered double hydroxide. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 494: 152939. (IF = 13.2)
4. Pan, Y., Zhang, W. Enhanced continuous lithium extraction using self-designed porous Nano sorbent fibers in a fixed-bed system: Optimization and mechanistic insights. Desalination, 2024, 118223. (IF = 9.8)
5. Pan Y., Du J., Chen J., et al. Interlayer intercalation of Li/Al-LDHs responsible for high-efficiency boron extraction. Desalination, 2022, 539. (IF = 9.8)
6. Pan Y., Zhang Y., Su H. et al. Enhancing lithium extraction from low grade Salt Lake brines using high powder loading aluminum-based adsorbent granules. Desalination, 2024, 117696: 117696. (IF = 9.8)
7. Pan, Y., Zhan, W., Zhang, W. Advanced computational strategies for lithium chemical and electrochemical adsorption: A comprehensive state-of-the-art review. Desalination, 2025, 600, 118524. (IF = 9.8)
8. Pan Y., Tao H., Su H. et al. High mixing enhancement for continuous uniformity Li/Al-LDHs in lithium extraction from low grade salt lakes. Separation and Purification Technology, 2024, 129282: 129282. (IF = 9.0)
9. Pan, Y., Zhang, W. Impurity Shielding in Li/Al-LDH-Based Lithium Recovery from Produced Water via Activated Carbon Pretreatment. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2025. (IF = 7.3)
10. Pan Y., Ji B., Nojabaei B. et al. Investigating CO₂ mineralization of fine mafic minerals: Insights into reaction characteristics and physicochemical attributes. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2025, 13(3): 116827. (IF = 7.2)
11. Pan Y., J. Yu, S. Lin. A rational strategy for synchronous extraction of lithium and boron from Salt Lake brines, Chemical Engineering Science. 2023, 276. (IF = 4.3)
12. Pan, Y., Zhan, W., Zhang, W. Sustainable lithium extraction from produced water: Integrating membrane pretreatment and next-generation adsorbents. Journal of Environmental Management. 2025, 382, 125343. (IF = 8.4)
13. Pan Y., Yin S., Yu J., Lin S. Efficient Step-by-Step Desorption to Reduce Boron in Brine Lithium Extraction. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2023. (IF = 3.9)
14. Pan, Y., Ji, B., Zhang, W., Knott, K., Xia, Y., Li, Q., Rena, B. Topography and structural regulation-induced enhanced recovery of lithium from shale gas produced water via polyethylene glycol functionalized layered double hydroxide. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2024. (IF = 6.0)
15. Pan Y., Ji B., Zhang W. et al. Selective extraction of lithium from shale gas produced water using an aluminum-based adsorbent. Green and Smart Mining Engineering, 2024.
16. Lin S., Pan Y., Du J. et al. Double-edged role of interlayer water on Li⁺ extraction from ultrahigh Mg²⁺/Li⁺ ratio brines using Li/Al-LDHs. Journal of Colloid Interface Science, 2022, 627: 872-879. (IF = 9.7)
17. Zhan, W., Yuan, Y., Weng, Q., Pan, Y., Song, S., Arauz-Lara, J. L., Jia, F., Zhang, W. Enhanced trace gadolinium (III) extraction via tailored chemisorption on defect-engineered molybdenum disulfide electrodes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, 162632. (IF = 13.2)
18. Chen X., Ma X., Pan Y., et al. Dissipation, transformation and accumulation of triclosan in soil-earthworm system and effects of biosolids applicatio. Science of Total Environment, 2020, 712: 136563. (IF = 8.0)
19. Chen X., Gu X., Zhao X, Wang Y, Pan Y., et al. Species-dependent effects of earthworms on the fates and bioavailability of tetrabromobisphenol A and cadmium coexisted in soils. Science of Total Environment, 2019, 658: 1416- 1422. (IF = 8.)
20. Chen X., Gu X., Zhao X., Ma X., Pan Y., et al. Species-dependent toxicity, accumulation, and subcellular partitioning of cadmium in combination with tetrabromobisphenol A in earthworm. Chemosphere, 2018, 210: 1042- 1050.
21. Zeng L., Deng S., Pan Y., Zhang W. Sustainable preparation of battery-grade FePO₄· 2H₂O from acid mine drainage through a precipitation-purification pathway. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2026, 225: 108643. (IF = 10.9)