Qi Liu obtained a Bachelor's degree in mineral processing engineering from Wuhan University of Science and Technology (China) in 1982, followed by a MASc and PhD from the University of British Columbia (Canada) in 1985 and 1988, respectively. He then worked at Wuhan University of Technology (China), Process Research Associates Ltd (Canada), before joining the University of Alberta in 1998. He is a professor of materials engineering, holder of the Ron Nolan/Hatch chair in sustainable energy and mineral process technologies, and the director of the Institute for Oil Sands Innovation at the University of Alberta.
Current research focus is on fine particle flotation separation by exploiting a combination of aggregation and flotation; Beneficiation of precious metal and rare earth metal ores. Oil sands extraction by water and/or solvents. Solid/liquid separation in bitumen cleaning and oil sands tailings dewatering. Hydrothermal bitumen cleaning and partial upgrading.
Unit operations employed to concentrate minerals including comminution, classification, gravity concentration, froth flotation, thickening, filtering; tailings disposal; marketing of minerals; economics. Credit may not be obtained in this course if previous credit has been obtained in MAT E 331. Prerequisite: STAT 235 or consent of Instructor.
Fall Term 2020Fundamentals of thermodynamics in Materials Engineering. Review of thermodynamic functions. First, second and third laws. Reaction equilibria, stability diagrams. Solution thermodynamics applied to materials processes. Phase relations, free energy-composition diagrams, binary phase diagrams, and introduction to ternary phase diagrams. Electrochemistry. Experimental methods and estimation of thermodynamic data. Prerequisite: CH E 243. Credit may not be obtained in this course if previous credit has been obtained in MAT E 340 or 301.
Winter Term 2021