Dr. Matthew Cole obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2021 from the University of Newcastle, Australia. His PhD focused on the hydrodynamics underpinning novel separation technologies for mineral beneficiation. He has a strong research background in flotation technologies, fluid bed processes, multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, and reaction kinetics. He has a keen interest in applying experimental research to deliver practical outcomes to industry.
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical ) (hons), University of Newcastle
Keywords
Chemical Engineering
Extractive Metallurgy
Fluidization
Hydrogen
Mineral Processing
Separation Processes
Fields of Research
Code
Description
Percentage
400403
Chemical engineering design
100
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title
Organisation / Department
Research Associate
University of Newcastle School of Engineering Australia
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Conference (2 outputs)
Year
Citation
Altmetrics
Link
2025
Wang R, Cole M, Tremain P, Honeyands T, 'H2 Reducibility and Sticking Behaviour of Australian Ores in Fluidized Bed Reduction', Proceedings Icsti 2025 10th International Congress on the Science and Technology of Ironmaking, 1070-1074 (2025)
Cole M, Galvin K, Dickinson J, 'An investigation into enhancing fine particle recovery using a recycle load in the Reflux Flotation Cell', Chemeca 2018, 151.1-151.9 (2018)
Wang R, Cole MJ, Tremain P, Honeyands T, 'Impact of Reduction Conditions on Metallic Fe Growth Mechanism of Australian Ores in H2-Fluidized Bed', Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy (2025) [C1]
A 2 m diameter REFLUX¿ Flotation Cell was fed at roughly 210 m3/h, equivalent to a flux of 1.9 cm/s, about twice the maximum rate used in conventional flotation cells. ... [more]
A 2 m diameter REFLUX¿ Flotation Cell was fed at roughly 210 m3/h, equivalent to a flux of 1.9 cm/s, about twice the maximum rate used in conventional flotation cells. The coal feed slurry had 59¿64 wt% head ash and nominal size range -0.100 mm (Sauter mean size 0.004 mm). The air, wash water and underflow rates were 180 m3/h, 65 m3/h and 235 m3/h respectively, giving a positive downwards wash water bias flux of 0.2 cm/s. Product ashes of 11¿15 wt% were obtained at combustible recoveries of 58¿75 %, with results on or better than the tree curve. These initial results demonstrate that the beneficial hydrodynamics seen at laboratory scale are realised at full-scale. Also demonstrated is the use of a novel oil-agglomeration technique to obtain detailed performance versus size data, showing that high hydrophobic recoveries were being obtained at sizes down to 0.001 mm.
Cole MJ, Dickinson JE, Galvin KP, 'The effect of feed solids concentration on flotation performance using the Reflux Flotation Cell', FUEL, 320 (2022) [C1]
Cole MJ, Galvin KP, Dickinson JE, 'Maximizing recovery, grade and throughput in a single stage Reflux Flotation Cell', MINERALS ENGINEERING, 163 (2021) [C1]
The Reflux Flotation Cell (RFC) utilises the Boycott Effect to decouple the overflow water flux from the gas flux, permitting in principle high product grade and recove... [more]
The Reflux Flotation Cell (RFC) utilises the Boycott Effect to decouple the overflow water flux from the gas flux, permitting in principle high product grade and recovery at a vastly higher volumetric feed flux. This study investigated this relationship between concentrate grade, recovery, and volumetric feed throughput using a single flotation stage and feed fluxes spanning 1¿9 cm/s, well beyond that used in conventional flotation. Coal flotation tailings and hydrocyclone overflow provided convenient representations of "binary" feeds for the experiments, constituting liberated hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles. The results demonstrated robust recoveries through the preservation of the gas to feed flux ratio with increasing feed flux, while minimising the gas flux strengthened the capacity to maintain high product grade using inverted fluidization water as the wash water. Remarkably, a high product grade (low product ash%) was maintained over the extreme feed flux range by ensuring a net downwards flux of wash water delivered through the upper fluidized bed of bubbles. Coal Grain Analysis (CGA), an optical imaging technique, identified the maceral composition of the feed particles and validated, with close agreement, the RFC steady state separation performance. Indeed, under continuous operation the RFC data demonstrated an overall positive shift in performance relative to that of the standard tree flotation curve. The findings showed strong preservation of product grade and recovery using a single RFC stage, over a seven-fold increase in the feed flux relative to conventional flotation systems.
Cole MJ, Dickinson JE, Galvin KP, 'Recovery and cleaning of fine hydrophobic particles using the Reflux™ Flotation Cell', Separation and Purification Technology, 240 (2020) [C1]
