The testing program demonstrated the platform’s capacity to selectively concentrate and extract high-value materials. In one notable trial, raw rare earth ore with 12% total rare earth oxide was converted into a product exceeding 83% purity, achieving a fourfold enrichment of neodymium and praseodymium. Similarly, the process yielded a PGM-rich concentrate from automotive catalysts in a single treatment cycle, offering a streamlined alternative to traditional recycling methods.
Metallium Validates Flash Joule Heating for Rare Earth and Mineral Recovery
Houston-based Metallium Limited has successfully tested its proprietary Flash Joule Heating technology on a diverse range of strategic feedstocks, including rare earth ores, germanium-laden industrial waste, and spent catalytic converters, signaling a potential shift in how critical minerals are recovered from complex, existing waste streams.
Metallium’s technology also showed high efficacy in industrial waste management. Germanium enrichment reached up to 280 times in zinc smelter waste, while tests on red mud successfully isolated gallium by removing 99% of iron and 94% of silicon. CEO Michael Walshe stated that while electronic waste remains the primary commercial focus, these results validate the platform's versatility across defense and semiconductor supply chains. The company is currently engaged in commercial discussions with various industry participants regarding potential deployment agreements.
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