Professor Sara Couperthwaite

Biography

Research areas:

My primary research interest revolves around developing sustainable technologies in mineral processing and finding beneficial reuses for mining waste streams. I design technologies that can transition seamlessly from lab demonstrations to pre-commercial pilot scale, minimising the commercialisation risks for industry partners and supporting their funding endeavours. I am committed to working with industry partners to ensure the development of the most efficient and sustainable processes to address real-world challenges, whilst developing a pipeline of skilled workforce to support the industry sector.

Main areas of research include:

1. the development of extractive processes for low grade/complex ores and mining waste streams (process waste streams, tailings and acid mine drainage) containing critical minerals
2. the development of processes for waste recovery, materials synthesis and water treatment
3. the development of analytical methods for high purity minerals and materials

I am currently leading a multi-million-dollar research program with Lava Blue to demonstrate the production of high purity alumina (HPA) from multiple feedstocks, such as clay, gibbsite, and aluminium-rich mineral producer waste streams.  The HPA manufacturing technology was translated from laboratory scale to pre-commercial scale, with the $4.5 million demonstration plant producing >99.99% purity Al2O3 routinely at the Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials (PRiSM). HPA is used as a ceramic coating on lithium-ion battery separators, which is in high demand due to the growth of the LED and electric vehicle markets. The research team is now expanding into a range of high purity specialty materials for battery technologies, using hydrochloric acid processing methods.

I am also the Director of a Faculty of Engineering research group called STRATA (Sustainable Transformation of Resources for Advanced Technology Applications), providing high impact solutions to industry by integrating sustainable process engineering practices with fundamental science.

Sustainable Transformation:  applying green engineering and chemistry principles to design and deliver tailored sustainable solutions for industry problems.

Resource: value-adding raw materials and waste streams

Advanced Technology Applications: working in partnership to demonstrate technologies at bench, pilot, and commercial scale.

Our vision is to create synergistic opportunities to enhance innovation and sustainability for industry partners whilst building a pipeline of skilled professionals to support the advancement and implementation of new technologies.