Press Release: Hydrophis Advances Green Minerals Technology
24.02.2025
Hydrophis Advances Green Minerals Technology with South Australian Government Support
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Hydrophis is advancing the development of its innovative green minerals technology following a significant visit last week from key government officials including the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Joe Szakacs MP, and representatives from Invest SA, Department of State Development, the Environmental Protection Agency and SA Water.
The visit to the Hydrophis Pilot facility at Adelaide Desalination Plant provided an opportunity to discuss how the company’s breakthrough mineral extraction technology can be scaled in South Australia to create a new export industry. The technology transforms desalination brine into high-purity minerals by recycling CO₂, offering a unique solution to both waste management and carbon reduction challenges.
Key discussion points included:
- Design, construction and commercial potential of the Company’s demonstration plant
- Integration with South Australia’s broader circular economy strategy
- Regulatory pathway development with SA EPA support
Minister Szakacs commented following the visit that “the Hydrophis technology represents an exciting development for South Australia’s green industry capabilities, combining waste utilisation, CO₂ recycling, marine environment management, and premium mineral production in an innovative circular economy solution.”
Hydrophis is running its fourth pilot of the technology through to May 2025, to further refine its process for producing high-purity magnesium and calcium products at >98% purity. The company has achieved several breakthrough innovations, including the first successful continuous process for magnesium carbonate precipitation and the ability to use atmospheric CO₂ in the process, potentially enabling carbon-negative mineral production.
“The South Australian Government’s support has been instrumental in our progress to date,” said Dr. Glenn Leighton, Founder of Hydrophis. “Their commitment to fostering local innovation in resource recovery alongside clever environmental protection aligns perfectly with our vision to transform industrial waste into valuable products while contributing to climate action.”
The company’s ability to produce high-purity minerals from waste streams could significantly strengthen domestic supply chains for essential materials used in flame retardants and other specialty chemicals.
Potential future sites for commercial deployment include the Northern Water project at Cape Hardy, Port Augusta, the Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant, and additional industrial locations across SA.
About Hydrophis
Hydrophis is pioneering advanced mineral chemistry to produce high-purity magnesium and calcium minerals from desalination brine, using waste CO₂. The company is planning a Stage 1 Demonstration Plant to produce 48,000 tonnes per annum of premium minerals while recycling over 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Contact:
Dr. Glenn Leighton
CEO, Hydrophis
glenn.leighton@hydrophis.eco
