UNSW is partnering with Rio Tinto to develop a sustainable water management solution that could also reduce carbon emissions from mining operations, with support from a TRaCE Lab to Market Fund grant.
The collaboration addresses water management challenges in large open-pit mining operations. Current approaches can be water and carbon-intensive. This research project will explore alternative materials and methods while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Led by Dr Ali Kashani and Professor Stephen Foster at UNSW, alongside Chief Investigators Professor Denis O’Carroll, Professor Christoph Arns, and Associate Professor Ailar Hajimohammadi, the research team will investigate innovative sustainable alternatives formulated from recycled industrial by-products.
“We’re working to develop alternatives that can match the performance of traditional approaches while reducing carbon emissions,” explains Dr Kashani. “The focus is on designing formulations specifically for real mining conditions.”
Rio Tinto Iron Ore General Manager Research, Development and Studies, Sarah Carroll, is leading the Reduced Impact Mining program to bring operational insights to support the project’s adaptation for practical industry use in large-scale mining.
“Water management is fundamental to safe mining operations. Finding lower-impact solutions that don’t compromise performance standards is exactly the kind of innovation the industry needs,” Ms Carroll said.
“Our partnership with UNSW and TRaCE allows us to test and apply sustainable water management solutions in real mining conditions, turning research into on-site innovation.”
The TRaCE Lab to Market Fund support is designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical industry application. If successful, the project could deliver tangible benefits to the mining sector, including improved operational safety, reduced dewatering costs, and reduced mine site’s footprint.
“Strong industry partnerships are essential for translating research into impact. This collaboration with Rio Tinto allows our engineering researchers to tackle significant sustainability challenges while ensuring their innovations are designed for real-world application from day one,” said Professor Julien Epps, Dean of Engineering at UNSW.
The collaboration reflects a growing commitment across the resources sector to produce minerals and materials in the safest and most sustainable way possible.