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Jan Miller
Professor Jan D Miller
Departmental Chair

The Ivor Thomas Distinguished Professor of Metallurgical Engineering

A member of the National Academy of Engineering

jan.miller @ utah.edu


TEACHING INTERESTS

Undergraduate courses in mineral processing specializing in particulate systems, aqueous solution chemistry, colloid and surface chemistry and environmental processing technology.

Graduate courses in hydrometallurgy, flotation surface chemistry and colloid chemistry.


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Surface chemistry and adsorption of surfactants, particle/particle and particle/bubble interactions.  Fine particle flotation in centrifugal fields. Flotation chemistry.  Micro-focus X-ray CT systems for analysis of particles and solid microstructure. Atomic force microscopy for surface imaging, surface force measurements and nanometer surfactant structures.  FTIR internal reflectance spectroscopy.  Waste water treatment and recycling technology.



Mineral processing, particle technology, hydrometallurgy, surface and colloid chemistry, environmental technology.

Current Projects

  • Mineral Processing. Liberation analysis by X-ray CT, on-line particle size analysis, flotation chemistry, air-sparged hydrocyclone technology, phosphate flotation, soluble salt flotation, sulfide flotation.
  • Particle Technology. Structure of particle beds by X-ray CT, filtration, granular solids flow and mixing, gypsum structures, concrete structures.
  • Hydrometallurgy. Physical chemistry of leaching, cementation, adsorption, solvent extraction, synthesis and utilization of magnetic activated carbons, cyanide destruction and/or recovery.
  • Surface and Colloid Chemistry. Atomic force microscopy, surface force measurements, electrochemical imaging of surfaces, surfactant surface structures, hydrophobic forces, in-situ surface spectroscopy of surfactant adsorption reactions, interfacial water structure, electrokinetic phenomena.
  • Environmental Technology: Air stripping to remove volatile organics from drinking and process water, water disinfection by ozone or chlorine sparging, suspended solids removal from wastewater, and contaminated soil remediation. De-inking of wastepaper. Plastics recycling technology.

Flotation

Flotation

Froth is generated on the top of a flotation cell during the processing of ore containing platinum- and palladium-bearing minerals. Flotation concentrates hydrophobic particles from hydrophilic ones.




Department of Metallurgical Engineering
135 South 1460 East, Room 412 • Salt Lake City UT 84112-0114
Phone: (801) 581-6386 • Fax: (801) 581-4937
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