Professor Anh Nguyen

Professor

School of Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
a.nguyen@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 53665

Overview

Biography:

Anh Nguyen is a professor at the School of Chemical Engineering where he held the BMA (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance) Chair from 2007 till 2017. He previously held academic positions at the University of Newcastle (Australia), the University of Utah (USA) and the Technical University of Kosice (Czechoslovakia). He was awarded an ARC (Australian Research Council) Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (Germany). His relevant publications include a research book on the colloidal science of flotation, 3 edited volumes, 15 book chapters (invited) and over 300 papers in refereed journals. He has editorial role on Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, and International Journal of Mineral Processing.

Research:

Professor Nguyen’s research interests embrace various aspects of colloid and interfacial science and engineering. The focus of his current research is on colloid and interface science of particles, bubbles and drops in surfactant solutions and saline water. The ultimate applications include coal and minerals processing, saline water usage and treatment, foliar fertilisers, smart self-cleaning materials, hydrophobic hydration and hydrates of natural gas, and particle separation. His research funding has come from industry partners (BMA, BHP Billiton, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, OneSteel, Agrichem) and agencies (ARC and ACARP). He is the Leader of the Mineral Processing and Interfacial Processes group.

Teaching and Learning:

Professor Nguyen aims to encourage critical thinking, understanding and application of fundamental principles. The objective is to engage students by providing a stimulating learning process and environment at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, relevant to the changing focus of national and global economic importance. He has taught a number of courses, including colloid and surface chemistry, particle processing and technology, unit operation, coal and mineral processing, flotation, computing and design laboratory, process modelling and simulation. He is currently an academic and international advisor for chemical and metallurgical engineering.

Projects:

  1. Saline Water: molecular phenomena and engineering of saline water-air interfaces, water desalination, salt flotation, coal flotation in sea water and tailings processing. Foliar Fertilizers and Pesticides: self-assembly of colloids from evaporating droplets on leaf surfaces.
  2. Gas Hydrates: role of hydrophobic hydration and additives in gas hydrate formation for storage and transportation.
  3. Nanomaterials: surface self-assembly of surfactants and nanobubbles
  4. Hydrometallurgy: role of colloidal forces and surface chemistry in bacteria attachment in bioleaching, and leaching of minerals in brine solutions.
  5. Mineral Processing: role of microhydrodynamics and colloidal forces in bubble-particle collection in flotation, surface electrochemistry of sulfide flotation, flotation of ultrafine particles, flotation of coarse particles and composite particles.
  6. Foam and Froth: drainage and stability of thin films of saline water, role of particle shape and hydrophobicity in foam drainage and stability, foamed cements.
  7. Molecular (MC and MD) modeling and validation by VSFG spectroscopy of the partition of salt ions and surfactants at the interfaces of liquid films relevant to flotation, bubble columns and oil processing.

Research Interests

  • Professor Anh V Nguyen
    Professor Nguyen’s research interests embrace various aspects of colloid and interfacial science and engineering. The focus of his current research is on colloid and interface science of particles, bubbles and drops in surfactant solutions and saline water. The ultimate applications include coal and minerals processing, saline water usage and treatment, foliar fertilisers, smart self-cleaning materials, hydrophobic hydration and hydrates of natural gas, and particle separation. His research funding has come from industry partners (BMA, BHP Billiton, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, OneSteel, Agrichem) and agencies (ARC and ACARP). He is the Leader of the Mineral Processing and Interfacial Processes group.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Mineral Processing, Technical University of Kosice

Publications

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • Projects in the areas of atomic force microscopy, molecular modelling, colloid and surface chemistry, foam and liquid films, flotation, coal and mineral processing, foliar fertilisers, saline water, and drinking water treatment for Master and PhD studies are available to highly skilled and motivated students from Australia and overseas (Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Minerals Engineering). Please contact Prof Anh Nguyen at anh.nguyen@eng.uq.edu.au for more details.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Osborne, Dave, Bottle, James, Wiseman, David M., Atkinson, Bruce W., Ejtemaei, Majid, Nguyen, Anh V., Wood, Christopher, Blagden, Troy and Verboomen, Jan (2023). Coal preparation assessment fundamentals. The coal handbook: Towards cleaner coal supply chains. (pp. 339-398) edited by Dave Osborne. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Woodhead Publishing. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824328-2.00018-2

  • Han, Haisheng, Peng, Mengsu, Nguyen, Anh V., Hu, Yuehua, Sun, Wei and Wei, Zhao (2023). The interfacial water structure at mineral surfaces. Reference Module in Chemistry, Molecular Sciences and Chemical Engineering. (pp. 552-566) Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85669-0.00079-9

  • Nguyen, Ngoc N., Nguyen, Cuong V. and Nguyen, Anh V. (2023). The significant interfacial properties in the flotation separation of (critical) minerals from the Earth's crust. Reference Module in Chemistry, Molecular Sciences and Chemical Engineering. (pp. 505-520) Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85669-0.00080-5

  • Nguyen, Anh V. and Firouzi, Mahshid (2013). Collision and attachment interactions of single air bubbles with flat surfaces in aqueous solutions. Drops and bubbles in contact with solid surfaces. (pp. 211-240) edited by M. Ferrari, L. Liggerie and R. Miller. Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A.: CRC Press.

  • Anh V. Nguyen (2013). Froth flotation. Reference module in chemistry, molecular science and chemical engineering. (pp. 1-26) edited by Jan Reedijk. Amstedam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409547-2.04401-2

  • Nguyen, Anh V., Tran, Linh T. T. and Miller, Jan D. (2012). Particle-particle interaction. Particle technology and applications. (pp. 31-50) edited by Sungyu Lee and Kimberly H. Henthorn. Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A.: CRC Press.

  • Bao, Li, Zhang, Ting-an, Nguyen, Anh V., Lv, Guozhi, Dou, Zhihe and Liu, Yan (2012). Study on application of a new model for the kinetics of diaspore leaching process. Light metals 2012: Proceedings of the technical sessions presented by the TMS Aluminum Committee at the TMS 141st 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Orlando, Florida, USA, March 11-15, 2012. (pp. 9-13) edited by Carlos E. Suarez. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118359259.ch2

  • Taran, Elena and Nguyen, Anh V. (2012). Surface deformation during bubble-particle colloidal interaction quantified by atomic force microscopy and numerical modeling. Separation technologies for minerals, coal, and earth resources. (pp. 19-26) edited by Courtney A. Young and Gerald H. Luttrell. Littleton, CO, USA: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME).

  • Hampton, Marc A. and Nguyen, Anh V. (2012). The nanobubble story. Encyclopedia of surface and colloid science. (pp. x-x) edited by P. Somasundaran. New York, United States: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1081/E-ESCS-120047404

  • Nguyen, Anh V. (2011). Particle-bubble interaction in flotation. Bubble and drop interfaces. (pp. 351-384) edited by Reinhard Miller and Libero Liggieri. London, United Kingdom: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b12177

  • Nguyen, Anh V. (2011). Particle-bubble interaction in flotation. Bubble and drop interfaces. (pp. 351-383) edited by R. Miller and L. Liggieri. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.

  • Nguyen, A. (2007). Flotation. Encyclopedia of separation science. (pp. 1-27) edited by I. D. Wilson, M. Cooke and C. Poole. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B0-12-226770-2/00071-5

  • Jameson, Graeme J., Nguyen, Anh V. and Ata, Seher (2007). The flotation of fine and coarse particles. Froth flotation : a century of innovation. (pp. 339-372) edited by Maurice C. Fuerstenau, Graeme J. Jameson and Roe-Hoan Yoon. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.

  • Nguyen, A.V., Drelich, J., Colic, M., Nalaskowski, J. and Miller, J.D. (2006). Bubbles: interaction with solid surfaces. Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science. (pp. 1-29) edited by P. Somasundaran. London United Kingdom: Taylor and Fancis. doi: 10.1081/E-ESCS-120022194

  • Nguyen, Anh V., Pugh, R.J. and Jameson, G.J. (2006). Collection and attachment of particles by air bubbles in froth flotation. Colloidal particles at liquid interfaces. (pp. 328-382) edited by Bernard P. Binks and Tommy S. Horozov. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511536670.010

  • Nguyen, Anh V., Tran, T.T. Tran and Miller, Jan D. (2006). Particle–particle interaction: Improvements in the prediction of DLVO forces. Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing. (pp. 2017-2029) edited by Sunggyu Lee. New York, U. S. A.: Taylor & Francis.

  • Nguyen, A. V., Evans, G. M. and Jameson, G. J. (2002). Approximate calculations of electrical double-layer interaction between spheres. Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science. (pp. 630-641) edited by Arthur T. Hubbard. New York, United States: Marcel Dekker Incorporated.

  • Nguyen, A. V. and Stechemesser, H. (1998). Dynamics of the impact interaction between a fine solid sphere and a plane gas-liquid interface. Drops and bubbles in interfacial research. (pp. 525-562) edited by D. Mobius and Reinhard Miller. Amstedam, The Netherlands: Elseiver.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Edited Outputs

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Projects in the areas of atomic force microscopy, molecular modelling, colloid and surface chemistry, foam and liquid films, flotation, coal and mineral processing, foliar fertilisers, saline water, and drinking water treatment for Master and PhD studies are available to highly skilled and motivated students from Australia and overseas (Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Minerals Engineering). Please contact Prof Anh Nguyen at anh.nguyen@eng.uq.edu.au for more details.