Medallion Resources Ltd has revealed new details about its research program into rare earth separation with Purdue University.
The Vancouver-based company is working with the university to advance and optimize the Ligand (NASDAQ:LGND) Assisted Displacement (LAD) Chromatography method to separate rare earth elements (REEs).
Medallion said it has expanded the test work by procuring a larger-scale automated bench-top chromatography instrument for the laboratory after positive results from the laboratory of Professor Linda Wang, who is leading the program.
READ: Medallion Resources poised to partner with Australian company ACDC to bring its rare earth separation technology to the Murray Basin
Wang and her team successfully completed the separation of magnetic REEs neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) to high-purity from a natural monazite sourced solution using LAD Chromatography.
According to Medallion, the upscaled system will enable faster testing and separation of REEs, allowing for more precise separation of high-value elements like dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb) and scandium (Sc), which are found in lower concentrations.
“The achievements to date have demonstrated the robustness of the mathematical modeling framework and digital design process which refines a complex set of process alternatives into a small set of tests” Mark Saxon, Medallion’s CEO said in a statement.
“This breakthrough separation technology will have very broad application, and we are now sharing results under confidentiality agreements with prospective partners in various parts of the REE supply chain. As it is organic-solvent free, small footprint and can be highly selective for REE magnet metals, we view it as highly disruptive in the REE sector.”
Medallion said it is preparing 70 kilograms of mixed REE carbonate from mineral sand monazite stockpiles for ongoing research, engineering and financial modeling. The carbonate will be used for separation research for an upcoming pilot plant operation expected in 2022.
Separately, Medallion told investors that its Australian partner ACDC Metals Ltd has started the IPO process in anticipation of an ASX listing. The two companies are planning to work together to potentially produce rare earths from monazite from Australia's Murray Basin using Medallion's extraction process.
Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com
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