Cara Haller was recognised with a prestigious Young Author Award at the XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC), held from 29 September to 3 October 2024, in Washington, DC. The award is presented to the ten most outstanding papers authored by researchers under the age of 35, and Cara’s work stood out among global contributions.
Her award-winning paper, Evaluating Environmentally Friendly Lixiviants for Lithium Recovery from Montmorillonite Clays, co-authored with her supervisor, Prof. Christie Dorfling, explores sustainable alternatives to conventional lithium extraction methods. The study experimentally investigated the use of six different organic acids for the leaching of lithium from clays under various conditions, offering a potentially greener approach to an industry that traditionally relies on mineral acids like sulphuric acid.
This paper is part of Cara’s PhD research, which focuses on evaluating different processing methods for lithium recovery from a clay deposit in Southern Africa. As the global demand for lithium continues to soar due to its essential role in electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage systems, Cara’s work is highly relevant to the industry’s needs.
Her research aligns with the IMPC 2024 theme, Mineral Processing for the Energy Transition, reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainable practices in the field. Cara’s contribution, recognised by the Young Author Award, highlights the importance of environmentally conscious innovations in mineral processing.
Dr. Margreth Tadie (left) and Ms. Cara Haller (right)
The ‘Young Author Award’ winners at IMPC 2024
Ms. Cara Haller
