Developing a more economical and sustainable method to produce manganese is essential, with the critical mineral forming a key component of most lithium ion and conventional alkaline batteries needed in devices like smartphones and laptops, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.
The current production process generates several significant waste-related problems such as unutilised manganese and other valuable materials, leading to the depletion of natural resources. Therefore, developing more sustainable waste management practices and production solutions are required to address these issues, increase efficiency and reduce the demand for land needed for waste management.
This is where the Trailblazer funded “Producing Battery-Grade Manganese Chemicals and Energy Materials from Diverse Sources” project comes into play. Led by Curtin University’s Associate Professor Elsayed Oraby and including Dr Arash Arami-Niya and Dr Nirmala Ilankoon, the team are pioneering an innovative method for the sustainable production of primary and secondary resources of manganese.
The proposed approach will streamline the manganese production process, reducing energy consumption, and minimising the carbon footprint, whilst producing a benign residue. The project is being bolstered with a full-time lab technician employed to address the skills gap and to support the team with funding from the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer.
In 2019 Trailblazer Emerging Innovator Nirmala completed her PhD research in gold extraction using magnetic nanoparticles and since 2020, she has been pursuing research related to Vanadium and Manganese processing projects.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this initiative, and I must emphasise that without the Trailblazer funding, this project would not have been possible. As the lead researcher, my focus is on producing high-purity manganese sulphate from ferromanganese waste streams. The Trailblazer team has been incredibly supportive and collaborative throughout the process. Not only does Trailblazer provide funding for the project, but they also actively support early career researchers like me by enabling opportunities to attend conferences and expand our professional networks.” Says Nirmala.
The project has both a commercialisation partner, CPC Engineering, as well as an uptake partner, Sakura Ferroalloys, who are providing the test case for market adoption.
“Sakura is delighted to be a Curtin Trailblazer partner, uniting our commitment to innovation and excellence with a focus on sustainable advancements. This collaboration marks a significant step in our journey towards transforming the by-products of FeMn production into high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), essential for battery manufacturing. Through this partnership, we aim to refine and perfect our processes, moving closer to the realization of a pilot plant capable of converting waste into valuable HPMSM,” says Walther Geyser, Sakura Ferroalloys’ Plant Metallurgical Manager.
“CPC is excited to collaborate with Curtin University to elevate our selective manganese extraction and purification technology. While it took some time to get started, the partnership is now flourishing, and we’re excited to see the positive impact of the academic perspective on our process and we are confident in the positive outcomes for the HPMSM production.” says Eugenia B. X. Phegan, CPC Engineering’s Process Manager.
By supporting this project, the Trailblazer is significantly enhancing the Technology Readiness Level of the process being developed whilst ensuring it is commercially viable by incentivising partnership with industry. The funding is also enabling further capability building of Curtin University’s post-doctoral researchers, providing them with opportunities to gain commercial knowledge and understanding of the key research they are working on at the university.
