Sustainable Minerals Institute

Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research

  1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Centres
  4. Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre
  5. JKMRC Research

About the Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research

The Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research (CPR) was initiated by the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) to tackle the multidisciplinary aspects of coarse particle processing such as flotation, comminution, classification, and equipment design and process chemistry. 

As the demand for copper and other base metal production continues to increase, so too does the pressure on mining operations to become more water and energy efficient. The processing of coarse particles is considered one of the key research areas for developing improved energy efficiency of mineral processing operations.

From 2020-2025, the CPR Program Phase 1 delivered important progress in areas such as flotation performance, modelling, circuit design, and process chemistry. Phase 2 is currently underway with new industry partners and will run from 2025-2030. 

    Aims

    More copper will be needed by 2050 than all copper mined in human history, so improved mining and processing technologies are needed to help mining operations to achieve this goal while becoming more sustainable and reducing their environmental, water and energy impact, even as ore grades decline and deposits become harder to access and process.

    One area that shows strong promise to deliver on this is coarse particle flotation (CPF). Better processing of coarse particles can bring a range of benefits, including higher plant throughput, lower energy use, improved water recovery, reduced Acid Mine Drainage, increased metal recovery, and even access previously unviable ore deposits.

    To support and coordinate these efforts, the SMI–JKMRC established the Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research (CPR Program). The consortium's goal was to bring together expertise, reduce duplicated work, and create shared value for all participants. By contributing once, members gained access to a wide range of research outcomes across multiple areas. 

    Objectives

    The CPR focuses on five main objectives: 

    • Maximising the recovery of coarse particles. 
    • Developing ways to predict coarse particle performance. 
    • Optimising overall circuit design. 
    • Understanding the technical and economic benefits of HydroFloat®. 
    • Supporting scale-up of the technology for real operations.

    Phase 2: 2025-2030

    Program Chair

    Professor Rick Valenta
    View Rick Valenta's research profile

    Program Director

    Associate Professor Liza Forbes
    View Liza Forbes' research profile

    Program Deputy Directors

    Dr Bellson Awatey
    View Bellson Awatey's research profile

    Dr Unzile Yenial Arslan
    View Unzile Yenial Arslan's research profile

    Scientific Advisor

    Associate Professor Kym Runge
    View Kym Runge's research profile

    Administration team

    Claire Dover

    Andrea Gray
    View Andrea Gray's profile

    Sherrie Palmer
    View Sherrie Palmer's profile

    Senior Workshop Technical Officer

    Mick Kilmartin
    View Mick Kilmartin’s profile

    Current Researchers

    Dr Candice Brill
    View Candice Brill's research profile

    Dr Susana Lima Goncalves Brito e Abreu
    View Susana Lima Goncalves Brito e Abreu’s research profile

    Professor Nick Cook
    View Nick Cook 's research profile

    Dr Farhana Diba
    View Farhana Diba's research profile

    Dr Lucia Dzinza
    View Lucia Dzinza’s research profile

    Dr Gordon Forbes
    View Gordon Forbes's research profile

    Dr Marko Hilden
    View Marko Hilden’s research profile

    Dr Mayra Jefferson
    View Mayra Jefferson's research profile

    Dr Qi Shao
    View Qi Shao’s research profile

    Anna Skliar
    View Anna Skliar's research profile

    Lizette Verster
    View Lizette Verster's research profile

    Dr Dion Weatherley
    View Dion Weatherley's research profile

    Professor Mohsen Yahyaei
    View Mohsen Yahyaei's research profile

    Phase 2: 2025-2030

    Full partnership participation to be announced soon.

    Phase 1: 2020-2025

    The program was financially supported by;

    • Aeris Resources, 
    • Anglo American, 
    • Eriez Flotation Division, 
    • Glencore, 
    • Hudbay, 
    • Newcrest Mining, 
    • Newmont, 
    • Rio Tinto, 
    • UQ's strategic Complex Ore Bodies program (which later transformed into the "Resourcing Decarbonisation" program)

    Phase 2: 2025-2030

    Full project details to be announced soon.

    Phase 1: 2020-2025

    Full project list here

    The CPR Program was designed primarily to deliver impactful research for the minerals processing industry. However, the research team has also invested significant efforts to make the funding of the program more widely available through more traditional academic output, such as peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. The wider dissemination of knowledge through these channels is expected to further facilitate future research on coarse particle processing in other centres around the world.

    Peer-reviewed journal papers

    1. Brill, C., I. Verster, G. V. Franks and L. Forbes, (2022) "Aerosol Collector Addition in Coarse Particle Flotation – A Review." Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review: 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2022.2095377 
    2. Forbes, L, Brill, C., and Verster, I. (2023). Aerosol collector addition in flotation – evaluation of delivery options. Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing. https://doi.org/10.37190/ppmp/174475
    3. Brill, C., Verster, I., & Forbes, L. (2025). Aerosol Collector Addition in Flotation – Pathways to Improvement Through Understanding of the Mechanisms. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2025.2540316
    4. Verster, I., Awatey, B., Forbes, L., Morrison, A., Mankosa, M., and Runge, K. (2024). Small-scale fluidised bed flotation device for ore amenability testing. Minerals Engineering 216 108848 108848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108848
    5. Demir, K., Morrison, A.J., Evans, C., Kohmuench, J., Runge, K., (2024) "The bubble size produced in a pilot HydroFloat® cell and its effect on Flotation", Minerals Engineering, Vol 218, pp 109021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.109021
    6. Forbes, L., C. Brill, I. Verster and G. V. Franks (2025). "Novel reagent addition method for improved copper recovery." Cleaner Engineering and Technology 26: 100958 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2025.100958
    7. Skliar, A., I. Verster, U. Yenial-Arslan, G. Forbes and L. Forbes "Impact of the Fluidised Bed Flotation Hydrodynamics on Bubble Interfacial Film Rupture and Coalescence." Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2025.2542830
    8. Bellson Awatey, Isabella Verster, Kym Runge, "Understanding Copper Flotation in the JKHFmini: a Small-scale Fluidised Bed Cell," Minerals Engineering, 2026 Volume 235, Part 2, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109864

      Conference proceedings

      • Demir, Konuray, Whiten, W. J., Morrison, Angus, Runge, Kym, Evans, Cathy, and Kohmuench, J. (2019). “Developing a semi-empirical model of the HydroFloat™ Cell: part 1: a hindered settling classification model.” Flotation’19, Cape Town, South Africa, 11-14 November 2019.
      • Morrison, A.J, van Heerden, M., Sweet, J., (2019), “The hydrodynamics of a fluidised bed flotation device using positron emission particle tracking”, Flotation’19. Cape Town, South Africa, 11-14 November 2019.
      • Morrison, A.J. S.Kia, K. Demir, and K. Runge , (2021) "The role of the fluidised bed in the HydroFloat® as a coarse particle recovery device", XXXI IMPC, Melbourne, Australia
      • Verster, I., Awatey, B., Forbes, L., Morrison, A., Mankosa, M., and Runge, K. (2023). Small-scale Fluidised bed flotation device for ore amenability testing. Flotation '23, Cape Town, South Africa, 6-9 November 2023.
      • Demir, K., A.J. Morrison, C. Evans and J. Kohmuench, K. Runge The Bubble Size Produced in a Pilot HydroFloat® Cell and Its Effects on Flotation, Flotation '23, 2023, Cape Town, South Africa, 6-9 November 2023.
      • K. Demir, A. Morrison, K. Runge, C. Evans and J. Kohmuench, (2021) "The drivers of HydroFloat® performance in a metalliferous application", XXXI IMPC, Melbourne, Australia
      • Miceli, H., Yahyaei, M., Hilden, M., Runge, K., Tavares, L.M. (2022) "The breakage characteristics of different liberation classes during primary breakage". In: 17th European Symposium on Comminution & Classification, Toulouse, France. p. 114.
      • Brill, C., Verster, I., Franks G. V., and Forbes, L. (2023). " Aerosol collector addition in coarse particle flotation" Advanced Chemistry World Congress, Barcelona, Spain, 27 - 28 March 2023, Keynote Address
      • Awatey, B, Verster, I., Forbes, L., and Runge, K., (2024). Testing the scalability of a small-scale fluidised bed device for coarse particle flotation. XXXI IMPC-International Mineral Processing Congress, Washington, DC, United States, 29 September - 3 October 2024. Washington, DC, United States: IMPC-International Mineral Processing Congress
      • Skliar, A., Verster, I., Yenial Arslan, U., Forbes, G., and Forbes, L. (2024). Coalescence in Fluidised Bed Flotation: Understanding the Interplay Between Chemistry and Hydrodynamics. XXXI International Minerals Processing Congress, Washington, DC United States, 29 September - 3 October 2024. Washington, DC United States: SME.
      • Brill, C., Verster, I., Franks, G. V., and Forbes, L. (2024). Effect of Aerosol Collector Dosing on Flotation of a Complex Ore. XXXI International Minerals Processing Congress, Washington, DC United States, 29 September - 3 October 2024. Washington, DC United States: SME.
      • Frausto, J.J., Awatey, B., Runge, K., Valdés, F, Martens, J., (2024) Integrating the Vertical Roller Mill technology with coarse flotation to significantly reduce comminution energy requirements - a preliminary assessment., XXI Syensqo Conference, Mexico City

        Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research in the news

        1. Collaborative Approach to Mining Research Bears Fruit, Australian Mining Review, March 2025, https://australianminingreview.com.au/issue/2025/03/collaborative-approach-to-mining-research-bears-fruit https://australianminingreview.com.au/issue/2025/03/collaborative-approach-to-mining-research-bears-fruit/
        2. Sustainable Minerals Institute recognised at the UQ Awards, MINING, September 2022, https://miningmagazine.com.au/sustainable-minerals-institute-recognised-at-uq-awards
        3. Reducing the Daily Grind, The Chemical Engineer, 54-58, April 2021, https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/reducing-the-daily-grind
        4. Top miners, University of Queensland join forces to research coarse particle processing, The Northern Miner, October 2020, https://www.northernminer.com/subscribe-login/?id=1003823677
        5. Anglo American, Glencore, Newcrest and Newmont join coarse particle recovery consortium, International Mining, October 2020, https://im-mining.com/2020/10/15/anglo-american-glencore-newcrest-newmont-join-coarse-particle-recovery-consortium/

          Contact us

          Get in touch to learn more about the CPR Consortium.

          Current Program Director

          Associate Professor Liza Forbes

          Principal Research Fellow,
          Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre

          JKMRC homepage