Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LSE:RBW, OTC:RBWRF) has announced a major advancement in test work at its Phalaborwa project in South Africa.
The company told investors it has successfully incorporated a cerium rejection step ahead of the final separation circuit, which reduces cerium content in its mixed rare earth product by approximately 65%.
The change is expected to improve product quality and lower both capital and operating costs, the company explained.
Specifically, it reduces the volumetric flow into the final separation circuit by about 98%, significantly simplifying downstream hydrometallurgical processes and decreasing the use of water and reagents.
Chief executive George Bennett puts it simply, the change reduces the amount of unwanted metal that would need to be separated later.
"This Ce rejection step is a major achievement in establishing Phalaborwa as one of the world's most efficient producers of light and heavy magnet REE worldwide," Bennett said in a statement.
"These results demonstrate the exceptional work being carried out by our team at our in-house facilities in Johannesburg, which is a world-class laboratory at the cutting-edge of REE recovery techniques."