Sara Couperthwaite

Professor Sara Couperthwaite is an academic at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering. Her research focuses on sustainable mineral processing and mining waste valorization, with a particular emphasis on

• Extractive processes for low-grade ores and mining waste
• High purity alumina production from alternative feedstocks
• Development of analytical methods for advanced materials
• Water treatment and resource recovery technologies

.

She leads a $4.5 million demonstration plant at the Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials (PRiSM), translating laboratory innovations to pre-commercial pilot scale for applications in lithium-ion battery separators. As Director of the STRATA research group, she integrates green engineering principles with fundamental science to deliver industry solutions.

Her recent publications highlight work on

• Acid mine drainage treatment
• Waste-to-resource materials synthesis
• Technoeconomic analysis of sustainable processes
• Hydrochloric acid processing for battery materials
• Alkaline waste stabilization
• Critical minerals recovery

.

Professor Couperthwaite is currently accepting research students for Honours, Masters, and PhD studies, with project topics including

• Metal halide perovskite solar cell optimization
• Recovery of metal precursors from Australian sources
• Construction materials for extreme environments

.