Ucore Separates Scandium at 99%+ Recovery via SuperLig(R)-One Pilot Plant - Seite 2

"Our intent is to offer customized separation solutions across a host of technology metals," continued McKenzie. "These applications include SuperLig^® products tailored to metals such as REE, platinum group metals, Li, Co, W and many more. Ucore's announcement of the separation of Sc at pilot scale, using a non-SX platform represents the first of many prospective metal breakthroughs that we are targeting in the very near future."

Scandium is a highly valued REE used in advanced aluminum alloys to impart added strength, increased corrosion resistance, greater heat toleration, and improved weldable properties. Sc is deployed primarily in the production of solid oxide fuel cells ("SOFC"), where its electrical and heat-stabilizing qualities make it the metal of choice in specific applications. It is ranked among the most promising of the clean technology metals, and is a critical component of advanced fuel cell technologies.

An assured supply of Sc is seen as a condition precedent in the commercial development of select aluminum alloys, including automotive assembly, additive layer manufacturing (3D printing) and high voltage tension wires. The application of scandium extends to the aerospace industry, where its alloys hold the potential for significant aircraft weight and cost reductions. The metal additionally holds promise for industrial weldable structures, with similar cost-reduction potential. All of the above applications are largely dependent upon not just reliable Sc supply sources, but upon economic and efficient separation technology to liberate the metal from potentially adverse poly-metallic environments. SuperLig^® offers a flexible platform for unlocking Sc from highly diverse supply sources, with a smaller installation footprint than SX capable of being located close to the Sc source.

Advanced Development

The next stages of the SuperLig®-One pilot plant operation will consist of running the purified PLS containing the REE, minus Sc, sequentially through each unit operation in the Plant to accomplish the following:

• Class Separation of Light REE (lanthanum to neodymium plus yttrium) and Heavy REE (samarium to lutetium) - Separation of the REE remaining after Sc removal into these two groups is an important juncture, since heavy REE are more valuable as a group, scarcer on world markets, and contain more of the Critical Rare Earth Oxides ("CREOs").
• Separation of Individual REE - This phase of the SuperLig^®-One pilot program will demonstrate separation of Heavy CREOs, as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. These separations will produce terbium and europium at over 99% purity, plus dysprosium at 99.99% purity. The remaining solution containing heavy REE (holmium to lutetium; gadolinium and samarium) and light REE (lanthanum to neodymium and yttrium) will be retained for future separations, as required.

After confirmatory testing of each unit operation, the Plant will undergo a continuous run of PLS.