Prof. Xiaowei Huang has been devoted to the fundamental research, engineering development and application of rare earth metallurgy, separation and purification, and rare earth materials for 37 years. Currently, she is a chief expert of General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals (GRINM Group), the director of National Engineering Research Center for Rare Earth Materials, the director of rare earth chemistry & hydrometallurgy committee of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths etc; entitled as the "Outstanding Engineer Award" in China, the "National Outstanding Scientific and Technical Workers", the "National Model Worker", and the "National Innovation & First Award Certificate".
Prof. Huang gained a series of innovative achievements in the efficient and cleaner extraction, separation and purification of rare earths. Typical patented technologies include the enhanced sulfuric acid bake-extraction and separation technology for Baotou mixed rare earth ore, the new non-saponification extraction technology for the rare earths separation, the new technology for rare earths separation and purification using Mg(HCO3)2, and the leaching-solvent extraction integrated technology for ion-adsorption rare earths ore, etc. These patented technologies have been put into practice in more than 40 rare earth enterprises, solved the problems arised from ammonia-nitrogen wastewater and radioactive waste from the source, efficiently recycled the wastewater containing Mg-salt and CO2, greatly improved the utilization rate of rare earth resources, and greatly advanced a green shift in the efficient cleaner exploitation and utilization of rare earth resources in China, leading the greener development of rare earth industry.
Prof. Huang holds over 91 invention patents and has published more than 160 papers. Besides, she has won many awards including 3 the national awards, 5 Chinese Patent Outstanding Awards, and 11 first prizes of provincial/ministerial awards. In 2017, she was elected as the Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering.