IS THE RACE ON? Ucore Announces Successful Independent Expert Evaluation of RapidSX Rare Earth Separation Technology
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 27, 2022) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to report the positive conclusions of a multi-phase, independent, third-party technical review of RapidSX™ technology (the "Independent Evaluation" or the "Evaluation") prepared by Dr. Ahmad Ghahreman of AG Hydrometallurgy Services Inc. ("AGHS") as a noted subject-matter-expert1. With a focus on the technical assuredness, benefits, and scalability of the RapidSX™ technology specifically for the separation of rare earth elements ("REEs") for the production of commercial-grade rare earth oxides ("REOs"), the Independent Evaluation concludes the following:
- RapidSX™ is capable of separating both light and heavy REEs for producing high-quality REOs and uses the same chemistry as proven conventional solvent extraction ("CSX") processes but with faster kinetics; thus, no chemistry risk at scale-up;
- RapidSX™ process shows itself to likely be 3 times as efficient as CSX, concluding a production plant can potentially have a 2/3 smaller footprint than a CSX plant of the same capacity with an associated separation process capital cost ("CAPEX") reduction of 50% or better;
- RapidSX™ for the separation and purification of REEs is dependent on its chemistry (same as CSX) and, given a smaller footprint for the same throughput, should have an expected operating cost ("OPEX") of 20% less than CSX for the same purpose; and
- RapidSX™ is a modular process making it scalable with minimal risk. The process can be designed to process REEs in the range of 1,000 to 10,000+ tonnes per annum.
AGHS was engaged by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") to undertake a technical review of the RapidSX™ technology and to provide an opinion concerning the technical and economic feasibility and scalability of RapidSX™, specifically for the separation of REEs for the production of commercial-grade REOs in Ucore's planned Alaska Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC"). "After completing our extensive technical review of the RapidSX™ technology, its commercialization development process and its planned installation in the Alaska SMC, it is my opinion that Ucore can credibly and effectively execute its unique business strategy," noted Dr. Ghahreman.
Figure 1 - RapidSX™ Testing on the CDF's Research Apparatus
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"We're extremely pleased with the independent expert evaluation of the RapidSX technology, as it continues to support our commercial deployment plans that center on being very competitive for the production of REOs to be delivered to downstream EV and renewable energy manufacturers," stated Ucore Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan, P.Eng. "The Evaluation's technically based alignment with our economic premise that there is a reduction in capital cost required to build a North American SMC for REE separation versus CSX, the increased throughput using the proprietary column-based technology and thus lower working capital, supports our business planning. This includes self-use to begin (i.e., the Alaska SMC), the ability to scale appropriately as the market dictates, potential JV opportunities and eventual US-allied licensing."
As part of its confidential work, in Phase I (Expert Opinion; Technical Review of the IMC RapidSX™ Separation Technology for Rare-Earth Separation, March 26, 2021), AGHS conducted a literature/data/conversational review of all past and current work associated with the development and commercialization efforts of the RapidSX technology. And in Phase II (Expert Opinion; Technical Review of the IMC RapidSX™ Separation Technology for Rare-Earth Separation - Phase II, January 17, 2022), they observed two rounds of testing carried out at Innovation Metals Corp.'s ("IMC") RapidSX Commercialization and Development Facility ("CDF") in Q4-2021 and conducted by IMC's laboratory partner Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. ("KPM"). The first test was performed on a synthetic REE solution (a dilute solution consisting of Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd), and the second test was conducted on a commercial mixed heavy REO sourced from an operating rare earth mine (the source of which remains commercially confidential). All testing was performed by KPM's personnel under the observation of Dr. Ghahreman, with AGHS receiving the test data/results directly from KPM and evaluating the RapidSX technology based on this data.
The two sets of solutions were tested utilizing both RapidSX and conventional solvent extraction processes, primarily exploring the kinetics of the two processes for separating the rare earth elements. RapidSX testing was undertaken on the CDF's Research Apparatus with a variety of flow rates and contactor lengths, as shown in Figure 1. Phase separator sizes and contactor diameter were kept consistent for all tests. CSX testing was conducted using mixer settlers, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 - Conventional Solvent Extraction Testing at the CDF
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From the tests on the synthetic samples, it was clear that the equilibrium time with the CSX process was reached in approximately 120 seconds or more. In contrast, the RapidSX process achieved a higher separation factor of the REEs within 40 seconds. The results of the CSX tests on the commercial mixed rare earth concentrate showed that the equilibrium time shifted to over 300 seconds. However, RapidSX test results were consistently better than the CSX results, with a higher separation factor reached within less than 100 seconds. These results confirm that RapidSX can be 3 times as efficient as CSX, which, among other advantages, could result in a RapidSX plant having a footprint 1/3 the size of a CSX plant. Operating costs of RapidSX could be expected to be more than 20% less than those of CSX for the same throughput.
During the last week of March and the second week of April 2022, the expanded commercialization team of management, engineers and scientist (from Ucore, IMC and KPM) held numerous meetings at the RapidSX CDF to review and update all past and planned activities and schedules. Additionally, the team took the opportunity to review and discuss the Independent Evaluation's findings which Ucore received in March 2022.
Based on vast experiences with process optimization from all involved team members, design decisions confirmed that the Company would continue to aggressively advance the construction of its RapidSX Demonstration-scale Plant ("DEMO Plant") within the CDF - the DEMO Plant is now scheduled for commissioning in mid-2022. The Company shared more intricate long-range planning (under an NDA) with a potential multi-national SMC partner that also visited the CDF in April 2022, wanting to see the technology development first-hand and to discuss their upstream and downstream requirements.
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About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metals resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore has a 100% ownership stake in the Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Earth Element Project in Southeast Alaska, USA. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, Ucore's vision includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the US REE supply chain through the development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility - the Alaska Strategic Metals Complex in Southeast Alaska and the long-term development of Ucore's heavy-rare-earth-element mineral-resource property located at Bokan Mountain on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.
About the RapidSX™ Technology
The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Innovation Metals Corp., developed the RapidSX separation technology with early-stage assistance from the United States Department of Defense ("US DoD"), later resulting in the production of commercial-grade, separated rare-earth oxides at the pilot scale. RapidSX combines the time-proven chemistry of conventional solvent extraction ("SX") with a new column-based platform, which significantly reduces time to completion and plant footprint, as well as potentially lowering capital and operating costs. SX is the international rare-earth-element ("REE") industry's standard commercial separation technology and is currently used by 100% of all REE producers worldwide for bulk commercial separation of both heavy and light REEs. Utilizing similar chemistry to conventional SX, RapidSX is not a "new" technology but represents a significant improvement on the well-established, well-understood, proven conventional SX separation technology preferred by REE producers.