Medallion Updates on Success of Rare Earth Element Separation Technology and Status of Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessm...
June 02 2021 - 6:00AM
Medallion Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MDL; OTCQB: MLLOF;
Frankfurt: MRDN) – “Medallion” or the “Company”), is
pleased to announce the successful separation and purification of
the magnetic rare-earth elements (REE) neodymium (Nd) and
praseodymium (Pr), from US-sourced mineral sand monazite. This is a
significant milestone for the Company and highlights the value-add
opportunity created by the recent exclusive licensing of the Ligand
Assisted Displacement (LAD) Chromatography method and underlying
patents from Purdue University (see press release dated 18th
February 2021).
Medallion Separates Neodymium and
Praseodymium using LAD Chromatography
-
Utilizing the Medallion Monazite Process, the Company extracted
REEs from monazite sourced from an operational mineral sand mine in
the eastern USA, into a pregnant leach solution (PLS);
-
This PLS was passed into the LAD Chromatography process and the
target REEs Nd and Pr were extracted directly from solution without
the need for additional conditioning or purification of the
PLS;
-
The high efficiency of the LAD method is in part enabled by the
ability to directly extract the highest value and
most critical REEs from solution at high purity. Progressive group
separation of all REEs (as required by the incumbent solvent
extraction method) is not needed within the LAD Chromatography
system;
-
Published test work by Purdue University demonstrates >99%
recovery of REE from solution by the LAD method;
-
The LAD method can equally be applied to the direct extraction of
heavy REEs dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) from solution, which
will form the basis of additional test work;
-
LAD Chromatography can be considered an environmentally friendly
process, as it is highly efficient and does not depend upon
solvents from the petrochemical industry. The technology was
highlighted in a 2020 article in The Journal of Green Chemistry
“Two-zone ligand-assisted displacement chromatography for producing
high-purity praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium with high yield
and high productivity from crude mixtures derived from waste
magnets”;
- Monazite is an
REE rich (up to 60% REE) mineral that can be accessed in large
volume as a by-product from heavy mineral sand mines in the US,
Australia, Africa, and elsewhere. It is consistently enriched in
the high-demand metals Nd and Pr which are essential for high
strength permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind
turbines, communication devices and robotics;
-
Medallion is developing transferable and scalable technologies for
the extraction REEs from monazite. The technologies can be placed
in the most economically and environmentally suitable locations to
reduce the CO2 impact of REE production caused by inefficient
processes and long-distance transport of raw materials; and
-
Medallion is utilizing Life Cycle Assessment to ensure lowest
environmental impact process decisions are made.
“Research and development is generally a slow
and progressive process. It is not often we get to witness
firsthand the fast pace of an emerging disruptive technology,” said
Mark Saxon, CEO and President. “It is less than 2 months since we
started working with the LAD process at Purdue and already
high-purity Nd and Pr carbonates have been separated from a
monazite-sourced leach solution. By keeping the REE in solution
from end to end, our cost, environmental footprint and recovery
efficiency can all be optimized.”
“This is a real credit to Professor Wang and her
team as well as a significant moment for Medallion. It demonstrates
how highly developed the simulation, chemistry and physical
hardware already is for LAD Chromatography. Our pre-investment
review of the LAD system versus peer technology highlighted its
potential, and it has been very gratifying to see it over
perform.”
The LAD Chromatography method was developed by
Linda Wang, PhD, the Purdue Maxine Spencer Nichols Professor of
Chemical Engineering at Purdue University. Chromatography is a
well-understood and widely-used technology platform that already
delivers large volumes of high-purity chemicals, vaccines,
pharmaceuticals, and metals for everyday life. Linda Wang and her
team have developed and optimized the method to deliver an
environmentally sound technique for REE separation with a
particular focus on providing the critical magnetic metals Nd, Pr,
Dy and Tb at a customer-ready purity.
The opportunity provided by the LAD system is
greatly enhanced by the proprietary supporting simulation system
that allows the optimal separation conditions for any REE feedstock
to be quickly and cheaply modelled. In the work just completed at
Purdue University on Medallion’s behalf, the system settings to
purify Nd and Pr from monazite sourced PLS were first modelled,
with the physical test work then carried out to produce the high
purity products without repeated testing or trial and error. The
purification was performed using off the shelf chemicals in an
organic solvent free medium.
The LAD separation was operated with PLS taken
directly from mineral sand monazite leaching which may provide
significant operational efficiency in a commercial setting.
A larger volume of PLS is now being prepared for
scaled up test work and optimization, alongside the modelling for
Dy and Tb separation.
Medallion has exclusively licensed the LAD
Chromatography technology for all non-coal sourced raw materials.
The Company is in discussion with third party companies regarding
separation testing and are happy to receive expressions of interest
from parties wishing to learn more.
Techno-Economic Assessment
Update
Utilizing independent consultants, Medallion is
presently finalizing a Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) and Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the Medallion Monazite Process (see
press release dated January 5 2021. These studies draw together
Medallion’s engineering, financial and environmental impact data
and will become the foundation of Medallion’s technology execution
strategy.
Delivery of the TEA has unfortunately been
impacted by COVID-19 staffing restrictions within consulting
service providers. Final engineering materials have been recently
received which are now being reviewed and independent financial
modelling is now in progress.
About Medallion Resources
Medallion Resources (TSX-V: MDL; OTCQB:
MLLOF; Frankfurt: MRDN) has developed a proprietary
process and related business model to achieve low-cost, near-term,
rare-earth element (REE) production by exploiting monazite.
Monazite is a rare-earth phosphate mineral that is widely available
as a by-product from mineral sand mining operations. Furthermore,
Medallion has recently licensed an innovative REE separation
technology from Purdue University which can be utilized by
Medallion and sub-licensed by Medallion to third party REE
producers.
REEs are critical inputs to electric and hybrid
vehicles, electronics, imaging systems, wind turbines and strategic
defense systems. Medallion is committed to following best practices
and accepted international standards in all aspects of mineral
transportation, processing, and the safe management of waste
materials. Medallion utilizes Life Cycle Assessment methodology to
support investment and process decision making.
More about Medallion can be found
at medallionresources.com.
Contact(s):
Mark Saxon, President & CEO
Donald Lay, Director & VP, Corporate
Development +1.604.681.9558 or
info@medallionresources.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Medallion management takes full responsibility
for content and has prepared this news release. Some of the
statements contained in this release are forward-looking
statements, such as statements that describe Medallion’s plans with
respect to the completion of additional tranche(s) of the Offering
and the intended use of the proceeds. Since forward-looking
statements address future events and conditions, by their very
nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including
the risks related to market conditions and regulatory approval and
other risks outlined in the Company’s management discussions and
analysis of financial results. Actual results in each case could
differ materially from those currently anticipated in these
statements. Also, in order to proceed with Medallion’s plans,
additional funding will be necessary and, depending on market
conditions, this funding may not be forthcoming on a schedule or on
terms that facilitate Medallion’s plans. These forward-looking
statements are made as of the date of this press release, and,
other than as required by applicable securities laws, Medallion
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or results or otherwise.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/329f064b-c494-4fda-aded-7183bc277c57
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