Quest Rare Minerals Gets Funding for Cleantech Pilot Project From SDTC

Quest Rare Minerals (TSX:QRM) reported that Minister Navdeep Bains announced that the company’s Selective Thermal Sulphation process pilot plant had been selected for funding by Sustainable Development Technology Canada.
As quoted in the press release:

Quest was awarded a $5 million grant from the SDTC to support the operation of a larger-scale pilot plant to produce mixed rare earth element (REE) oxides, the objective being to confirm and fine-tune process criteria and the performance of Quest’s ╩║STS╩║ process in preparation for scaled-up industrial production levels.
The eco-friendly STS process developed by Quest is a robust industrial process that efficiently and cost effectively produces high purity mixed REE oxides from mined ore concentrate from its Strange Lake mineral property in Northern Quebec. Compared to alternative technologies, the ╩║STS╩║ process delivers superior efficiencies and economies-it (i) is much simpler; (ii) requires fewer reagents and lower reagent dosages; (iii) separates rare earth elements from major impurities; (iv) optimizes liquid process effluent quality and produces smaller quantities of solid residues; and (v) entails lower capital and operating costs. Large buyers of mixed REE oxides have indicated that Quest’s “STS” process is cost competitive on a world basis. Moreover, the “STS” process is designed to extract REEs from the phosphor powder recovered from fluorescent light bulbs, helping solve an important environmental problem for landfills.

SDTC president and CEO, Leah Lawrence, said:

The SDTC is incredibly proud to support Quest Rare Minerals. Our mission is to help Canadian cleantech entrepreneurs move their ground-breaking technologies to commercialization by bridging the funding gap between research and market entry. The ╩║STS╩║ process is the kind of technology that has the potential to generate jobs, growth and export opportunities, and to bring lasting economic, environmental and health benefits to Canadians and the world.

Click here for the full press release.