Prof Leon Lorenzen

Extraordinary Professor

Email: Leon.Lorenzen@mintrex.com.au

Short Bio

• Education
  • PhD (Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1993
  • MScEng (Metallurgical Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1985
  • BEng (Chemical Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1982
  • Post Graduate Diploma – Executive Development Programme, Stellenbosch University Business School, 1998
• Professional experience
  • Professor Extraordinary in Mineral Processing
    Stellenbosch University, Process Engineering Department
    September 2008 to present
  • Visiting Professor in Metallurgical Engineering
    Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, Perth
    January 2013 to present
  • Studies Manager/Director
    Mintrex, Subiaco, Western Australia
    2013 to present
  • Group General Manager and Executive Consultant – Metallurgy, Innovation and Research
    Snowden Group, Perth
    December 2009 to 2013
  • Innovation Project Manager
    BHP Billiton Nickel West, Stainless Steel Materials (SSM), Perth
    February 2009 to November 2009
  • Metallurgy Manager
    BHP Billiton, Stainless Steel Materials (SSM), Perth Technology Centre
    September 2008 to February 2009
  • Professor, Chairman, Deputy Dean, Acting Dean
    Stellenbosch University, Department of Process Engineering
    July 1995 to August 2008
  • Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor
    Stellenbosch University, Department of Process Engineering
    July 1990 to June 1995
  • Senior Engineer
    Somchem (Pty) Ltd
    October 1988 to June 1990
  • Senior Plant Metallurgist, Plant Production Superintendent
    Anglo American Corporation – Freegold (Ops) Ltd, Pres. Brand Gold Mine, J.M.S. Uranium Plant
    August 1987 to September 1988
  • Research Metallurgist
    Anglo American Research Laboratories
    January 1983 to July 1987
• Professional societies
  • Fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FSAIMM)
  • Fellow of the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers (FSAIChE)
  • Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (British) (FIChemE)
  • Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering (FSAAE)
  • Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM)
  • Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia (MIEAust)
  • Registered as a Professional Engineer in South Africa (PrEng)
  • Registered as a Chartered Engineer with the British Engineering Council (CEng)
  • Registered with Professional Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineers Australia (CPEng)
• Honours and awards
  • Best paper at the Second International Conference on Hydrometallurgy (ICHM ’92), China (1992)
  • Evaluated as a B category researcher by the NRF in South Africa
  • Researcher of the Year, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch (1996)
  • Lecturer of the Year, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch (1999)
  • Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, University of Stellenbosch (2002)
  • SAIMM Silver Medal for the best journal article published in South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) Transaction Papers (2005)
  • Co-author of best poster paper at Mineral Processing 2006, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Co-author of best poster paper at South African Institute of Chemical Engineers, Research and Development Symposium, Cape Town (2007)
  • Authored papers have been awarded one of the Minerals Engineering Top 25 papers (2011 and 2012)
  • Authored paper has been awarded one of the Chemical Engineering Top 25 papers (2007)

Research Interests

• Mineral processing
• Electrochemistry
• Reactive systems
• Hydrometallurgy
• Waste treatment
• Biofuels

Selected Publications

• Musee, N. and Lorenzen, L. (2013), Market dynamics as a driver towards research needs evolution: a case of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket seeding granules, WaterSA, Volume 39(1).
• Lorenzen, L., Barnard, M.J. (2011), Why is mineralogical data essential for designing a metallurgical test work program for process selection and design? GeoMet 2011 – 1st AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference 2011, pp. 163-172.
• Daramola, M.O., Burger, A.J., Pera-Titus, M., Giroir-Fendler, A., Miachon, S., Dalmon, J.-A., Lorenzen, L. (2010), Separation and isomerization of xylenes using zeolite membranes: A short overview, Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 5(6), pp. 815-837.
• Daramola, M.O., Deng, Z., Pera-Titus, M., Giroir-Fendler, A., Miachon, S., Burger, A.J., Lorenzen, L., Guo, Y. (2010), Nanocomposite MFI-alumina membranes prepared via pore-pugging synthesis: Application as packed-bed membrane reactors for m-xylene isomerization over a Pt-HZSM-5 catalyst, Catalysis Today, Volume 156(3-4), pp. 261-267.
• Daramola, M.O., Burger, A.J., Giroir-Fendler, A., Miachon, S., Lorenzen, L. (2010), Extractor-type catalytic membrane reactor with nanocomposite MFI-alumina membrane tube as separation unit: Prospect for ultra-pure para-Xylene production from m-Xylene isomerization over Pt-HZSM-5 catalyst, Applied Catalysis A: General, Volume 386(1-2), pp. 109-115..
• Daramola, M.O., Burger, A.J., Pera-Titus, M., Giroir-Fendler, A., Lorenzen, L., Dalmon, J.-A. (2010), Xylene vapor mixture separation in nanocomposite MFI-alumina tubular membranes: Influence of operating variables, Separation Science and Technology, Volume 45(1), pp. 21-27.