Ucore Rare Metals Updates on MRT Rare Earth Separation

Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU) released further test results regarding the use of IBC Advanced Technologies’ Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) for the separation of rare earths. Sprott reported that the process has achieved separated samarium and gadolinium at 99.2 percent purity.

As quoted in the press release:

The testing was conducted on beneficiated material sourced from the Company’s Bokan Dotson-Ridge property in Southeast Alaska. The pregnant leach solution (“PLS”) was prepared by Hazen Research, Inc. of Denver Colorado, using the metallurgical process outlined in the Company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (see Ucore press release dated January 15, 2013).

Individual carbonate salts of Sm and Gd were produced utilizing a proprietary Molecular Recognition Technology (“MRT”) circuit developed by IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. of American Fork, Utah (“IBC”). Full load, wash and elution cycles were performed using IBC’s SuperLig® resin in column mode. Elution was accomplished with a small volume of eluent (acid).

As announced by the Company on March 3, 2015, Ucore and IBC have entered into an agreement for the exclusive rights to IBC’s SuperLig® Molecular Recognition Technology for rare earth separation, recycling, as well as tailings processing applications. (See Ucore Press release dated March 3, 2015)

Pilot scale testing is planned next to confirm the successful laboratory results. IBC’s flow sheet is designed to recover each individual REE at > 99% purity and contains the following steps. Greater than 99% of the REE’s, as a group, are first recovered from the PLS; followed by separation of the REE’s into a light plus yttrium (La, Pr, Nd + Y) group (“LREE + Y”) and a heavy + samarium (Sm-Lu) group (“HREE + Sm”). Individual selective separations of the REE’s in each group are then made, as well as earlier individual separations of Sc and Ce.

Ucore president and CEO, Jim McKenzie, said:

We are very pleased with the continued progress being made by IBC with respect to ongoing improvement in the MRT rare earth separation process. We look forward to completing pilot scale testing of this promising nano technology.

Click here to read the Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU) press release