Patna : The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna has partnered with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australia in a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at extracting critical minerals from electronic waste (e-waste). The collaboration seeks to address the rising demand for essential minerals and promote sustainable resource management.
Led by Dr Amit Kumar Verma, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at IIT Patna, and Dr Manish Singh, Assistant Professor in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering, alongside Dr Warren Bruckard, Head of Mineral Sciences at CSIRO, the project will focus on recovering valuable materials such as germanium, indium, and tantalum from discarded electronics.
The partnership is a key development under the India-Australia Critical Minerals Network, highlighting the two nations’ commitment to ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical resources. The research will place particular emphasis on refining methodologies suited to Indian conditions, where electronic waste generation is rapidly increasing.
At the inaugural joint meeting, IIT Patna’s Director, Prof T. N. Singh, underscored the importance of fostering international collaboration in critical minerals research. He stressed that such initiatives are vital for advancing India’s National Critical Minerals Mission, which aims to ensure the long-term availability of essential minerals through beneficiation, advanced processing, and e-waste recycling.
The initiative will be coordinated by Joanne Loh, Group Leader of Critical Minerals Processing at CSIRO, and Prof Singh.
