Belfast-based Ionic Technologies Ltd, a subsidiary of Ionic Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:IXR, OTC:IXRRF), is on track to become a magnet rare earth producer this month with production from the magnet recycling demonstration plant.
This demonstration plant will produce separated and refined, high-purity magnet rare earth oxides (REO).
Over the past six weeks, the plant equipment has been sequentially dry commissioned with safety systems installed prior to process commissioning activities which are tracking at 66% completion.
Meanwhile, wet commissioning of the solvent extraction circuit kicked off with operations moved to 24/7 this week.
Pilot plant activities are continuing in parallel to help confirm operational parameters for the separation circuit.
Moving forward, magnet inventory continues to build with in excess of 50 tonnes of Neodymium-Iron-Boron( NdFeB) permanent magnets now on hand to provide feedstock for the demonstration plant trials.
This presents an opportunity for IonicTech to have a 'first mover' advantage in the industrial elemental extraction of REEs from spent magnets and waste,
Key catalyst
Ionic Rare Earths managing director Tim Harrison said: “The progress at IonicTech continues to plan with process commissioning on track to achieve the production of first separated oxides by the end of this month in Belfast.
“The successful commissioning and production of recycled high purity individual magnet REOs from our Magnet Recycling Demonstration Plant in Belfast will be a key catalyst for the company in being able to establish further collaboration platforms and supply chain partnerships with magnet manufacturers and end-user customers.
“Additionally, the successful commissioning and production of magnet REOs will be an important milestone for several discussions progressing to deploy the modular technology across western markets looking to develop domestic, secure and sustainable supply chains from secondary sources through recycling.”
High recovery values
IonicTech, formerly Seren Technologies, was acquired by Ionic Rare Earths last year and is a wholly owned subsidiary based in Belfast UK.
The subsidiary has developed rare earth element separation and refining technology and applied this to the recycling of spent permanent NdFeB magnets.
Since its founding in 2015, as a spin-out from Queens University Belfast (QUB), IonicTech has developed processes for the separation and recovery of REEs from mining ore concentrates and waste permanent magnets.
The technology developed has the potential to provide a step change in efficient, non-hazardous and economically viable processing with minimal environmental footprint compared to current practices.
Impressively, IonicTech’s work to date has demonstrated the capability for REEs to achieve near-complete extraction of REOs from lower-quality spent magnets and waste (swarf) to a remarkable recovery of high-value magnet REO product quality exceeding 99.9% REO.