Timothy Eisele

Contact

tceisele@mtu.edu
906-487-2017
HSTEM 237

Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering Endowed Faculty Fellow

PhD, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Michigan Technological University
MS, Metallurgical Engineering, Michigan Technological University
BS, Metallurgical Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Biography

Research and Teaching Interests

Particulate processing, chemistry and thermodynamics of metals extraction; physical separation processes, sustainable raw materials production, oxidative and reductive bioleaching of metals.

Large-scale processing and utilization of industrial wastes.

Materials such as fly-ashes scrubber sludges, metallurgical slags, machining wastes, and many other similar materials present a significant disposal problem, which can be much reduced if commercial markets can be developed for them.

Advanced processing techniques for particulate separations.

I have an interest in development of improved processing techniques to deal with ever finer and more diverse particulate materials. This includes advanced separation techniques such as column flotation, centrifugally-enhanced particle separators, electromagnetic separations, and improving the energy efficiency of the comminution (crushing and grinding) step, which is generally considered to only be about 1-2% efficient compared to the theoretical energy requirement.

Bioleaching of Metals.

A number of metals are currently recovered by hydrometallurgy (dissolution in aqueous solution, leaching from ore, and reprecipitation), frequently using microorganisms that promote metal and sulfur oxidation. In addition to oxidative leaching, I am investigating the use of metal-reducing organisms for hydrometallurgy of metals that are more soluble in their reduced forms, such as iron and manganese. Leaching processes for these metals would allow the recovery of metal from much lower-grade ores, while also reducing environmental impact and improving energy efficiency

Research Interests

Particulate processing
Chemistry and thermodynamics of metals extraction; physical separation processes,
Sustainable raw materials production

Publications

Patents

Eisele TC. Systems and Methods for Selective Leaching of Manganese from Ores. U. S. Patent Application 18390861. 2025 April 03

Eisele, T. C. Salt Production Via Hydrohalite Decomposition, U.S. Patent No. 11,932,551, issued 2024 Mar. 19
Eisele, T. C., Kawatra, S. K, and Simmons, J. J., “Capture and Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide in Flue Gases”, Patent Number 7,919,064 B2, issued April 5, 2011
Eisele, T. C., and Kawatra, S. K., Production of Iron using Environmentally-Benign Renewable or Recycled Reducing Agents, Patent No. 7,632,330, issued December 15, 2009.
Eisele, T. C., and Kawatra, S. K., “Flotation Column With Adjustable Supported Baffles”, Patent Number 5,335,785, issued August 9, 1994
Kawatra, S. K., and Eisele, T. C., “Method for Producing Powder from Polycrystalline Inorganic Material”, Patent Number 5,524,836, issued June 11, 1996
Eisele, T. C., and Kawatra, S. K., “Process for Extracting Oxygen and Iron from Iron-Oxide-Containing Ores,” U.S. Patent No. 4,997,533, issued March 5, 1991
Kawatra, S. K., and Eisele, T.C., “On-Line Slurry Ash Analyzer,” U.S. Patent No. 4,916,719, issued April 10, 1990.

Selected Technical Papers

Arohunmolase, V. B., Samakinde, A. S., Borkar, P. K., Amponsah-Berko, D., & Eisele, T. (2026). Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing by Electrostatic Separation Plus Two-Stage Froth Flotation. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 1-16.
Boafo, K., Borkar, P. K., & Eisele, T. (2026). Overcoming the Iron Selectivity Hurdle in Nickel Bioleaching: A Critical Review of Mechanisms, Economic Challenges, and Future Research Directions. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 1-16.
PK Borkar, N Sharma, A Rane, K Boafo, T Eisele (2026) “Leaching of Manganese Using Bio-solubilized Iron Reductant to Prevent Manganese Carbonate Formation”, Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, pp. 1-12
Borkar, Palas Kamlakar; Eisele, Timothy; (2025) A Review of In Situ Manganese Bioleaching and Recovery Techniques, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, pp 1-22
Borkar, Palas Kamlakar; Sharma, Neha; Boafo, Kwabena; Amponsah-Berko, Daniel; Eisele, Timothy; (2025) Reductive Bioleaching of Goethite-Rich and Hematite-Rich Iron Tailings by Anaerobic Organisms, Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, p 1-11
Eisele TC, Borkar P, Sharma N, Techtmann S. Pilot Plant Study on Manganese Bioleaching Using Biomass Decomposition Products as Nutrient Source and Electrolysis for Oxide Precipitation. Hydrometallurgy. 2025 February; 232:106430. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2024.106430
Sharma, N. and Eisele, T. C. (2021) “Anaerobic Reductive Bioleaching of Manganese Ores”, Minerals Engineering, 173, 107152
Zhang, L. S. Ankathi, M. Zhang, T. C. Eisele (2019), “Bio-extraction of phosphorus from goethite ore with alkali addition”, Minerals Engineering, 141, 105850
Zhang, L., R. Machiela. P. Das, M. Zhang, T. C. Eisele (2019), “Dephosphorization of unroasted oolitic ores through alkaline leaching at low temperature”, Hydrometallurgy, 184, pp. 95-102
Machiela, R., L. Zhang, M. Zhang, T. Eisele (2018) “Regeneration of alkali leaching solution through precipitation using calcium hydroxide”, Hydrometallurgy, 181, pp 35-42
Gabby, K. L., T. C. Eisele, C. H. Buchnam, B. Hall, E. Milosafljevic (2014) “Simultaneous Mercury Capture and Silver Leaching Using Ag2S-Bearing Ores and Residues”, Minerals and Metallurgical Processing Journal, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 181-185
Eisele, T. C., and Gabby, K. L. (2014) “Review of Reductive Leaching of Iron by Anaerobic Bacteria”, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 75-105
Eisele, T. C., and H. J. Walqui (2013) “Coal Comminution and Sizing”, The Coal Handbook: Towards Cleaner Coal Production, Elsevier, p 240
Eisele, T. C., Jeltema, C. H. N., Walqui, H., and Kawatra, S. K. (2013) “Coarse and Fine “Fish Hook” Inflections in Hydrocyclone Efficiency Curves”, Minerals & Metallurgical Processing Journal, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 137-144
Sivrikaya, O., Arol, A., Eisele, T. C., and Kawatra, S. K. (2013) “The effect of calcined colemanite addition on the mechanical strength of magnetite pellets produced with organic binders”, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 210-222
Gabby, K. L., and Eisele, T. C. (2013) “Selective Removal of Mercury using Zinc Sulfide”, Minerals and Metallurgical Processing Journal, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 91-94
Srivastava, U., Kawatra, S. K., and Eisele, T. C. (2013) “Study of Organic and Inorganic Binders on Strength of Iron Oxide Pellets”, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, Vol. 44B pp. 1000-1009
Srivastava, U., Kawatra, S. K., and Eisele, T. C. (2012) “Production of Pig Iron by Utilizing Biomass as a Reducing Agent”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 119, pp.. 51-57
Carlson, J. T., Eisele, T. C., and Kawatra, S. K. (2012) “Investigation of Jigging as a Method for Removing Dolomite from High-MgO Phosphate Ores”, Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 56-60
Lewandowski, K.A., Eisele, T.C., Kawatra, S.K., 2010. Agglomeration for copper heap leaching. In: Proceedings XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC 2010), September 6–10, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 183–192