Medallion Resources successfully separates and purifies two high-value rare earth elements from monazite

Medallion Resources Ltd (CVE:MDL) (OTCQB:MLLOF) (FRA:MRDN) announced it had successfully separated and purified the magnetic rare-earth elements neodymium and praseodymium from monazite. 

In a statement, the Vancouver-based company called the news a “significant milestone” that showcases the ”value-add opportunity” from its recent exclusive licensing of the Ligand Assisted Displacement (LAD) Chromatography method and associated patents from Purdue University.

Medallion said it successfully extracted REEs from monazite sourced from a US-based mineral sand mine into a pregnant leach solution (PLS), which was then passed into the LAD Chromatography process to extract neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) directly from the solution.

READ: Medallion Resources completes diagnostic testing in Australia to extract rare earth elements from mineral sand monazite

A highly efficient, environmentally-friendly process, LAD Chromatography can directly extract the most valuable REEs from solution, at a higher purity. Testing by Purdue University shows over 99% recovery of REEs.

Medallion is developing transferable and scalable technologies to extract REEs from monazite.

“Research and development is generally a slow and progressive process. It is not often we get to witness first-hand the fast pace of an emerging disruptive technology,” said Mark Saxon, Medallion’s CEO, in a statement.

“It is less than two 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.”

Saxon called it a “significant moment” for Medallion as well as the Purdue team in that 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.”

Medallion said a larger volume of PLS is being prepared for scaled-up test work and optimization, alongside the modelling to separate other REEs.

Separately, the company said that it is finalizing its Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for its Medallion Monazite Process that will become the foundation for its technology execution strategy. Medallion said delivery of the reports is delayed due to pandemic-related staffing restrictions at the independent consultants that are preparing the reports, but final engineering materials were recently received and financial modelling is in progress.

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Story by ProactiveInvestors