Overview
Background
Liguang Wang is an internationally recognised researcher in mineral processing, with research leadership in flotation science and process intensification to enable efficient recovery of critical and energy-transition minerals. His research group has delivered patented and patent-pending technologies, supported by international (PCT) filings, for flotation process intensification, monitoring, and control, bridging fundamental understanding with industrial application. He received his PhD from Virginia Tech (Supervisor: Roe-Hoan Yoon) in 2006 and was awarded the ACARP Research and Industry Excellence Award in 2022.
More details from the lab website.
Fully funded PhD project: We are seeking a domestic student working on sustainable production of lithium minerals, which is supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant. Web link for the scholarship: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/sustainable-beneficiation-lithium-minerals
Availability
- Associate Professor Liguang Wang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Research interests
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Critical minerals, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, flotation, dewatering, agglomeration, particle separation, thin liquid films, complex fluids, modelling and simulation, process control.
Research impacts
Developed a versatile method to improve flotation efficiency using low-frequency acoustic sound. This technology has entered industrial demonstration stage.
Improved mineral or coal flotation using oscillatory air supply. This work is highlighted in an industrial e-newsletter: ACARP Matters
Developed a novel sensor to monitor the mass pull of any flotation cell. In-plant testing of the sensor has been successful.
Developed a simple and fast method to measure frother distribution in flotation circuits for process control.
Works
Search Professor Liguang Wang’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Conference Publication
Dewatering mineral and coal fines using the hyperbaric centrifuge
Yoon, R. H., Asmatulu, R., Keles, S., Luttrell, G., Wang, L., Schultz, W. and Franklin, J. (2012). Dewatering mineral and coal fines using the hyperbaric centrifuge. XXVI International Mineral Processing Congress - IMPC 2012, New Delhi, India, 24-28 September 2012. New Delhi, India: Technowrites.
2012
Conference Publication
Inter-bubble attractions in aqueous solutions of flotation frothers
Wang, Liguang (2012). Inter-bubble attractions in aqueous solutions of flotation frothers. SME Annual Meeting and Exhibit and CMA 113th National Western Mining Conference 2011, Denver, CO, United States, 27 February - 2 March 2011. Englewood, Colorado, USA: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
2012
Journal Article
Impact of interface approach velocity on bubble coalescence
Wang, Liguang and Qu, Xuan (2012). Impact of interface approach velocity on bubble coalescence. Minerals Engineering, 26 (1), 50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2011.10.016
2012
Journal Article
The effects of acid hydrolysis on protein biosurfactant molecular, interfacial, and foam properties: pH responsive protein hydrolysates
Dimitrijev-Dwyer, Mirjana, He, Lizhong, James, Michael, Nelson, Andrew, Wang, Liguang and Middelberg, Anton P. J. (2012). The effects of acid hydrolysis on protein biosurfactant molecular, interfacial, and foam properties: pH responsive protein hydrolysates. Soft Matter, 8 (19), 5131-5139. doi: 10.1039/c2sm25082a
2011
Journal Article
Effects of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate on the selective flocculation of diasporic-bauxite in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions
Wang, Yuhua, Sun, Daxiang, Wang, Liguang and Zhou, Yulin (2011). Effects of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate on the selective flocculation of diasporic-bauxite in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. Minerals Engineering, 24 (10), 1031-1037. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2011.04.027
2011
Book Chapter
Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films
Yoon, Roe-Hoan and Wang, Liguang (2011). Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films. Colloid Stability: The Role of Surface Forces - Part I. (pp. 161-186) Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH. doi: 10.1002/9783527631070.ch7
2010
Book Chapter
Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films
Yoon, Roe-Hoan and Wang, Liguang (2010). Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films. Colloids and Interface Science Series. (pp. 161-186) Weinheim, Germany: Wiley Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9783527631193.ch7
2010
Conference Publication
Correlation of air recovery with thin film and froth stability in flotation
Wang, Liguang, Qu, Xuan and Nguyen, Anh V. (2010). Correlation of air recovery with thin film and froth stability in flotation. International Mineral Processing Congress 2010, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 6 -10 September 2010. Carlton, Vic., Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2010
Conference Publication
Surface forces in thin foam films stabilised by non-ionic surfactants
Qu, Xuan, Wang, Liguang and Nguyen, Anh V. (2010). Surface forces in thin foam films stabilised by non-ionic surfactants. 40th Australasian Chemical Engineering Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 26 - 29 September 2010. Barton, ACT, Australia: Engineers Australia.
2009
Journal Article
Anomalous thickness variation of the foam films stabilized by weak non-ionic surfactants
Qu, Xuan, Wang, Liguang, Karakashev, Stoyan I. and Nguyen, Anh V. (2009). Anomalous thickness variation of the foam films stabilized by weak non-ionic surfactants. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 337 (2), 538-547. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2009.05.038
2009
Conference Publication
Effect of PH and electrolyte on the stability of surfactant-free foam films
Wang, L. and Yoon, R. H. (2009). Effect of PH and electrolyte on the stability of surfactant-free foam films.
2009
Journal Article
Effect of pH and NaCl Concentration on the Stability of Surfactant-Free Foam Films
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, Roe-Hoan (2009). Effect of pH and NaCl Concentration on the Stability of Surfactant-Free Foam Films. Langmuir, 25 (1), 294-297. doi: 10.1021/la802664k
2008
Journal Article
Effects of surface forces and film elasticity on foam stability
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, Roe-Hoan (2008). Effects of surface forces and film elasticity on foam stability. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 85 (4), 101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.minpro.2007.08.009
2008
Conference Publication
Effects of film elasticity and surface forces on the stability of foams and lamellae films in the presence of non-ionic surfactants
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, Roe-Hoan (2008). Effects of film elasticity and surface forces on the stability of foams and lamellae films in the presence of non-ionic surfactants. 15th International Congress on Rheology/80th Annual Meeting of the Society of Rheology, Monterey, California, 3-8 August 2008 . Melville, NY, United States: American Institute of Physics . doi: 10.1063/1.2964865
2008
Conference Publication
Effect of elasticity and surface forces on the stability of foams and lamellae films in the presence of flotation frothers
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, R.H. (2008). Effect of elasticity and surface forces on the stability of foams and lamellae films in the presence of flotation frothers. XXIV International Mineral Processing Congress (XXIV IMPC), Beijing, China, 24-28 September 2008. Beijing, China: Science Press.
2008
Journal Article
A Response to the comment on hydrophobic forces in the foam films stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate: Effect of electrolyte
Yoon, Roe-Hoan and Wang, Liguang (2008). A Response to the comment on hydrophobic forces in the foam films stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate: Effect of electrolyte. Langmuir, 24 (9), 5194-5196. doi: 10.1021/la703819n
2007
Book Chapter
Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films
Yoon, R. H. and Wang, L. (2007). Hydrophobic Forces in Foam Films. Colloid Stability: The Role of Surface Forces. (pp. 161-186) edited by Tharwat F. Tadros. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag.
2006
Conference Publication
Effects of surface forces and film elasticity on foam stability
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, Roe-Hoan (2006). Effects of surface forces and film elasticity on foam stability. 6th UBC-McGill-UA Symposium on Fundamentals of Mineral Processing: Interfacial Phenomena in Fine Particle Technology, Montreal, Canada, 1 - 4 October, 2006. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2006
Journal Article
Role of hydrophobic force in the thinning of foam films containing a nonionic surfactant
Wang, LQ and Yoon, RH (2006). Role of hydrophobic force in the thinning of foam films containing a nonionic surfactant. Colloids And Surfaces A-physicochemical And Engineering Aspects, 282, 84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2005.10.070
2006
Conference Publication
Stability of foams in the presence of ionic and non-ionic surfactants
Wang, Liguang and Yoon, Roe-Hoan (2006). Stability of foams in the presence of ionic and non-ionic surfactants. International Mineral Processing Congress 2006, Istanbul, Turkey, 3-8 September 2006. Istanbul, Turkey: Promed Advertising.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Liguang Wang is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Sustainable beneficiation of lithium minerals
Pioneer a novel flotation beneficiation method to upgrade lithium ores, lowering costs and environmental impacts while enabling sustainable recovery of critical minerals.
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Mineral Beneficiation
The objective of this project is to develop a novel and effective beneficiation process to upgrade critical minerals, increase utilisation of existing resources, and reduce costs and adverse impacts in processing of the ores.
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Development of Advanced Coal Cleaning Technologies
Separation of ultrafine coal particles from clay and water during a cleaning operation has been a long-term problem that the industry has faced. This project will develop advanced solid-solid and solid-liquid separation technologies, aiming to achieve high combustible recovery and low product moisture at low cost.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Advancing particulate materials separation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
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Doctor Philosophy
A novel process for mineral separation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
-
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing beneficiation of fine particles
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Ultrasonic flotation of minerals without and with external air supply
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Studies of wetting film stability, froth stability and mineral flotation with acoustic sound
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Gas Dispersion and Graphite Flotation in Saline Water with Oscillatory Air Supply
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anh Nguyen
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling the Solid-liquid Separation and Monitoring the Solids Recovery in Solid Bowl Centrifugation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hangil Park
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Inhibition of Bubble Coalescence and Improvement of Froth Flotation Using Acoustic Sound
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang, Dr Hangil Park
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of starches as depressant in the flotation separation of hematite from quartz
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Coal flotation using oscillatory air supply
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental and Computational Studies of Gas Hydrate Formation and Dissociation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A study of frother chemistry and froth behaviour in coal flotation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Clathrate hydrate formation in presence of kinetic and thermodynamic promoters
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anh Nguyen
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Correlation of air recovery with froth stability, thin liquid film stability and separation efficiency in coal flotation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anh Nguyen
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Effect of contact angle and contact angle hysteresis on the stability and detachment of floating particles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anh Nguyen
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Bioprocess engineering and downstream process optimisation of microalgae for biomass production
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Liguang Wang directly for media enquiries about:
- Gas hydrates clean energy algal biofuel flotation coal cleaning mineral processing
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