Ucore Rare Metals Completes Construction of Rare Earth Separation Pilot Plant

Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU) reported that IBC Advanced Technologies has completed construction of its SuperLig®-One rare earth separation pilot plant. The next stage of the pilot plant process is the commissioning phase, which is scheduled to being this month.
As quoted in the press release:

The SuperLig®-One pilot plant is now in a pre-production quality control and testing phase at the Vineyard industrial facility near Salt Lake City, Utah. All fluids containment units have been installed and are ready for the delivery, pre-production preparation and storage of pregnant leach solution (“PLS”).
Detailed MRT valving, liquid and compressed air conveyance systems, as well as circuits and switching units, have been skid-mounted and stationed in the processing grid. The fluid propulsion, pumping and delivery systems are in place. Columns have been installed and mounted within the processing circuit. An array of rare earth class separation and individual separation containment vessels have been installed.
Customized automation software, hardware and control interfaces have been installed and tested. A post-processing quality control analysis and testing station has been completed. A comprehensive materials shelving and storage area has been installed, and a materials receiving and shipping station is now complete and ready for PLS feedstock.
The PLS is being prepared by SGS Lakefield Research Ltd (“SGS”) of Lakefield, Ontario for introduction to the MRT circuit (see Ucore Press Release dated 17 February, 2016). In preparation for PLS delivery, the first stage of water testing has been completed, and the processing system is now being plumbed and sequentially commissioned through each processing station.

Ucore President and CEO, Jim McKenzie, said:

The completion of SuperLig®-One is a significant milestone for Ucore. The construction of this facility is the culmination of over two years of intensive research, design and development. IBC is the world leader in molecular recognition applications to the resource industry, and this pilot facility represents a disruptive technology asserting itself in an important class of materials science: the separation of metals of utmost priority to the US economy, clean energy, high technology and emerging defense systems. We applaud the scientists and engineers at IBC Advanced Technologies for this outstanding achievement of science and design, and look forward to the successful completion of near term test trials using domestic feedstock.

Click here for the full press release.