ECU, CPC Engineering and Impact Minerals trial new HPA process

SUMMARY:

Australian Innovation Partnership Secures Federal Funding for Sustainable Mineral Processing

A collaborative venture between academia and industry has received significant government backing to develop an innovative mineral processing technology. Edith Cowan University, CPC Engineering, and ASX-listed Impact Minerals have jointly secured nearly $3 million in federal funding to advance a groundbreaking approach to producing high-purity alumina.

The partnership, supported through the Cooperative Research Centres Projects program, aims to establish a pilot facility that will demonstrate Impact's novel hydrometallurgical technique. This approach utilizes salt deposits from lake environments and employs membrane technology to separate valuable metals, offering substantial environmental advantages over conventional methods by eliminating crushing and grinding processes while reducing energy consumption.

According to Impact's leadership, this initiative positions the company strategically within the growing global market for high-purity alumina, with capabilities to deliver a sustainably manufactured product. The project's accelerated timeline focuses on rapidly progressing from initial testing phases to comprehensive feasibility assessment, with plans to provide product samples to potential commercial partners.

The pilot facility, which will be constructed at ECU's campus under CPC Engineering's design and management, represents a component of a broader $6.3 million collaboration scheduled to continue through December 2027. Academic experts have highlighted the transformative potential of the membrane separation technology across Australia's critical minerals sector.

This initiative forms part of a larger $55 million commitment from the Australian government targeting advancements in critical minerals processing, renewable energy development, and related industries. Government representatives emphasized how the project exemplifies Australian innovation with significant potential for export opportunities and domestic employment growth.