RE:RE:RE:Two ways it can goDeterming if this process will work for other metals I think will depend both on the metal and the nature of the deposit. I am not a scientist but I believe the process is based on the relationship between the boiling point ( not melting but boiling) of the metal you are trying to purify vs the boiling point of the impurities in your particular deposit. You want to heat the material up to just before the metal vaporizes and all impurities that vaporize at a lower temp should boil off and be removed. So your success is thus based on what impurities are in your deposit. This is going to work best then with metals with very high vaporization points.
Yes I believe UBR has worldwide rights to the use of the IP of PYR for silicon and for that PYR gets a 10% royalty off the gross revenue. If someone bought both companies then this would be a moot point. If they just buy UBR then they could process the PYR or any other companies deposit. I would have to re-read the agreement to determine if UBR or their purchaser could re-licence the process for silicon to other companies for a royality, likely they can but I am not positive.