Monash launches Critical Minerals Initiative

Monash Engineering's expertise in critical minerals is helping drive the newly launched Monash Critical Minerals Initiative (MCMI), a cross-disciplinary collaboration bringing together academic and professional experts from Monash University's faculties of Business, Economics, Science, Engineering and Arts.

The initiative focuses on critical minerals including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt and others, which are essential for technologies such as electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and defence capabilities.

MCMI's research is built around six pillars: new mineral resources; future processing technologies; mine rehabilitation; environmental and social impact systems; policy and economics; and national security. Together, these pillars address the full critical minerals value chain needed to strengthen Australia's sovereign capability.

Monash Engineering academics will play a vital role in the Initiative. As Research Lead for Future Processing Technologies, Professor Sankar Bhattacharya from Chemical and Biological Engineering, will help drive the development of sustainable, scalable technologies to recover and process the critical minerals needed for batteries, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

"Our focus is in developing and rapidly scaling-up fundamental scientific proof-of-concept into future processing technologies that are environmentally sustainable and economically feasible," Professor Bhattacharya said.

"This confidence is backed by our publications and patents harnessing critical metals from low-value and legacy wastes from other industries."

Professor Mohan Yellishetty, from Civil and Environmental Engineering, will lead the Mine Rehabilitation research pillar, advancing sustainable approaches to mine closure and land restoration.

Monash Engineering academics also contributing to the Initiative include Professor Adrian Neild; Professor Prof Ranjith Pathegama Gamage; Associate Professor Stuart Walsh; Dr Parama Chakraborty Banerjee; and Dr Rishabh More.

MCMI has a growing body of partners spanning Australian and global industry leaders, along with government departments and policymakers.

Partners include Geoscience Australia, CSIRO, the RECARB Hub (Australian Research Centre Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling), the Australian Government Treasury, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Resources Victoria.

Learn more about MCMI here.