Industry Partners Series: membrane solutions for minerals and water

Australia holds world-class reserves of lithium, rare earths, cobalt and other critical minerals central to clean energy systems, advanced manufacturing, defence capability and supply-chain resilience. Yet most value is still realised at the mining stage, with downstream processing constrained by high energy demand, intensive chemical use, water consumption, waste generation and process complexity.

This seminar examines how membrane technology can unlock the next phase of sustainable Direct Critical Mineral Extraction. Advanced membrane processes enable selective separation, concentration and purification of target elements from brines, leachates, tailings and industrial waste streams. When properly designed, these systems can reduce water and chemical inputs, lower environmental impact and improve overall process efficiency.

Drawing on recent research from Edith Cowan University’s Mineral Recovery Research Centre, Dr Amir Razmjou will present emerging membrane-based approaches for extracting lithium, rubidium, high-purity alumina and rare earth elements. Dr Mehdi Shirazi will explore process development pathways, pilot-scale validation and integration into industrial operations.

The seminar demonstrates how membrane innovation, supported by strong university, industry and government collaboration, can help Australia move beyond raw material export and build sovereign capability in clean, low-carbon critical mineral processing.