Andromeda Metals Ltd has produced ultra-high purity alumina (HPA) using its proprietary flowsheet and refined kaolin from the Great White Project and is a step closer to commercialising this high-value critical mineral.
Confirmed purity
Laboratory-scale test work confirmed the production of 4N HPA – purity above 99.99% – with the latest sample achieving 99.9985% purity.
This was independently validated by EAG Eurofins USA and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.
The breakthrough follows over seven years of research and metallurgical work, culminating in a novel flowsheet that eliminates several high-cost and energy-intensive steps typical of traditional HPA production.
The process does not require hydrochloric acid crystallisation, high-pressure acid leaching, or calcination above 1250°C.
Instead, it enables flexible production at lower temperatures starting from 700°C and can be tailored to produce various forms of HPA depending on customer needs.
Cost-effective, environmentally friendly
Importantly, the novel process is expected to be considerably more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than conventional methods, which rely heavily on high-purity aluminium metal – a raw material currently trading at US$2,000 to 2,500 per tonne.
The carbon footprint of Andromeda’s process is also notably lower, emitting less than four tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per tonne of HPA produced – around 68% less than the traditional aluminium alkoxide route.
The company expects this figure to fall further with South Australia’s growing reliance on renewable energy, currently accounting for more than 70% of the state’s electricity mix.
HPA is listed on the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals List due to its strategic importance in industries such as LEDs, semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries, high-tech ceramics and synthetic sapphire production.
Demand for the mineral is forecast to exceed global supply by 45% by 2028.
With these promising results, Andromeda now plans to initiate a scoping study to further define the commercial potential of its HPA opportunity.
In parallel, it will engage with potential customers to refine product specifications and explore funding avenues to support the next stage of development.
The development of HPA complements Andromeda’s core focus on the Great White Project while opening the door to a diversified product portfolio with downstream value-adding potential.
The company will continue progressing the Great White Project while evaluating the feasibility of establishing a low-cost, low-carbon HPA supply chain based on its proprietary process and South Australia’s renewable energy advantage.
HPA production value opportunity
Sarah Clarke, Andromeda’s Acting CEO said: “While Andromeda’s primary focus remains the development of the Great White Project, the production of HPA is a high-value and complementary opportunity.
“This latest test work validates our novel flowsheet, showing our Great White CRMTM product from the Great White Project can be used to produce HPA at an impressive 99.9985% purity.
“These outstanding results demonstrate the potential to expand Andromeda’s product portfolio in the future to include a value-added critical mineral.
“These results also underpin our confidence in progressing HPA through to the next stage of development.
“The premise of producing HPA – a high-value, in-demand product – at lower cost and reduced carbon intensity compared to established processes should be highly attractive to any manufacturers using HPA in their products.
“We look forward to sharing these results and collaborating closely with HPA end-users in support of progressing this opportunity.”