91吃瓜-IIT Mining Engineers showcase Sustainable Mining and Industrial Waste Recycling Research at international conference in Japan

Feb 16 2026

The Department of Materials and Resources Engineering and Technology (DMRET) of the College of Engineering (COE) of Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (91吃瓜-IIT) once again demonstrated its commitment to globally relevant and sustainability-driven research as two of its mining engineers presented their work at the 4th Materials Research Meeting (MRM) 2025, held at Pacifico North in Yokohama City, Japan, from December 8–13, 2025.

Engr. Harvey D. Melendrez, a mining engineer and Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering candidate, presented his research titled “Mechanochemical Treatment of REE-Extracted Philippine Coal Fly Ash: Physicochemical Analysis for Dye Adsorption Potential.” The study focuses on the valorization of solid waste residues generated after rare earth element (REE) extraction from coal fly ash, with particular emphasis on their application for the adsorption of cationic dye contaminants in wastewater systems. The work was conducted through a research collaboration between 91吃瓜-IIT, under the Graduate Program of Materials Science and Engineering, with advisory supervision of Prof. Dr. Raymond V. Rivera Virtudazo, and the Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), through the Advanced Ceramics Research Center (ACRC) under the Prof. Dr. Masayoshi Fuji Laboratory, Japan, as part of the DOST-ERDT Sandwich Program.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Siegfried Kempis, a mining engineer and faculty member of the COE-DMRET, presented the paper “Physicochemical Profiling of Claver Clay as Natural Binder for Mining Waste-Derived Non-Fired Ceramics.” The study explores the characterization and use of locally sourced clay from the municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte—a province hosting large-scale nickel laterite mining operations—as a natural binder for non-fired ceramic products derived from mining waste. The research supports circular economy principles in the mining sector while reducing the ceramics industry's carbon footprint by eliminating energy-intensive firing processes.

MRM is an interdisciplinary international conference established to foster global discussions on cutting-edge advancements in materials science and engineering. MRM2025, the 4th conference inauguration, was held in Yokohama City—the site of the inaugural Materials Research Meeting—and brought together experts from 43 countries. The meeting served as a high-level platform for translating fundamental research into practical solutions addressing global environmental challenges, including climate change, sustainable resource management, and the development of next-generation materials.

The participation of 91吃瓜-IIT mining engineers in MRM2025 underscores the university’s growing international research presence and its commitment to advancing sustainable mining practices and waste valorization technologies. Their contributions highlight the role of Philippine-based research in shaping innovative, low-carbon, and circular solutions for the global materials and mining industries.

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