CSIRO Waterford analytical facility and FBICRC Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant tour

CSIRO Waterford analytical facilities

An overview of selected CSIRO Critical Minerals R&D activities across Horizons 1, 2 and 3, including prospective commercial opportunities along with a networking session.

A tour of the CSIRO Waterford analytical facilities which comprise a part of our Characterisation Program capabilities which are dedicated to the characterisation of minerals and mineral products to underpin the research efforts of the Business Unit. Capabilities in the Program include:

• high quality elemental analysis
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis with world class capability in clay characterisation and in-situ XRD analysis
• A huge variety of mineral and elemental mapping techniques using SEM techniques, X-ray fluorescence and several laser based techniques
• Particle analysis including size, shape, surface area, porosity and density
• 3D characterisation using CT (computed tomography) and MicroCT with unique capabilities to analyse crystal structure in 3D
• Drill core analysis with XRF and hyperspectral mapping of drill core

This tour will visit the Waterford-based Analytical Chemistry, Particle Analysis and Micro-characterisation labs to see the equipment that has been used to provide the analytical data required to support the BHP Nickel West battery grade nickel sulphate pilot plant and more recently, the FBICRC precursor cathode active material (pCAM) pilot plant project

FBICRC: Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant 

The Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) is currently operating a fully automated continuous Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant (CPPPP) based at CSIRO’s Waterford facility.

The CPPPP is producing the current generation of cathode chemistries used in electric vehicles from locally sourced materials and is a key step towards the production of advanced battery materials on an industrial scale.

Delegates will get a behind-the-scenes view of the facility that is building a pipeline of future employees with the breadth of chemistry skills and capabilities necessary to run a modern manufacturing industry.

Tour schedule 

• 1:00pm - People arrive at CSIRO reception (pre-registrations needed)
• 1:15pm - Short presentations on CSIRO Critical Minerals R&D activities
• 3:00pm - Afternoon tea (networking with coffee/tea and light refreshments)
• 3:25pm - Facility tour, HSE guidance
• 3:30pm - Facility tour, people split into 2 groups, Group 1 to CPPPP, Group 2 to analytical
• 4:05pm - Groups swap locations
• 4:40pm - Groups arrive back at reception
• 4:45pm - People depart
  
  

Please note: No coach will be provided for this tour. Delegates will need to make their own way to 7 Conlon Street, Waterford for the commencement of the tour.

Please note: In order to maximise the benefits to delegrates on this tour, CSIRO staff will be exluded from attanding. By registering to this tour, your name, position, organisation and mobile will be released to CSIRO for approval.

Tour participants must be registered to attend the Critical Minerals Conference 2023.