Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR) is progressing a “first-of-kind” product carbon footprint analysis, in partnership with Minviro, for the proposed Belfast magnet recycling plant.
Based on the initial analysis, the patented magnet recycling technology developed by Ionic’s subsidiary Ionic Technologies has the potential to reduce emissions by at least between 30% to 50% per unit of rare earth oxide (REO), compared to two well-established conventional REO producers.
The study results are currently undergoing peer review to ensure robustness and consistency, with final results expected next month.
Ionic Rare Earths says a smaller carbon footprint will benefit the UK and Europe rare earth supply chain, with Ionic in the process of assembling partners for the commercial rare earth oxide manufacturing plant in Belfast.
Managing Director Tim Harrison says these preliminary results suggest that Ionic Technologies’ patented process represents a step change in the CO2 impact of REO production.
“Minviro is a global leader in peer-reviewed, ISO certified studies, utilising LCA methodologies to accurately quantify the CO2 impact of technologies, and the validation of our process that their assessment provides is invaluable,” Harrison says.
“Manufacturers are obliged to quantify and actively manage the CO2 impact of their supply chain, and critical raw material legislation globally is driving this even harder.
“Substantially more magnet REO demand, and therefore more CO2 impact, is now anticipated from emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, which amplifies the CO2 benefit that Ionic Technologies demonstrates.”
Harrison notes with the data the study has generated, Ionic Technologies will work with offtakers to quantify the CO2 impact of its products and how this can benefit entire supply chains.
Ionic Technologies has developed rare earth separation and refining technology and applied this to the recycling of spent permanent neodymium-iron-boron magnets.
The process uses a hydrometallurgical process to extract the rare earths, then separate the individual magnet rare earths within neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium — and then refine to high-purity individual magnet rare earth oxide.
Ionic Rare Earths is an emerging miner, refiner, and recycler of sustainable and traceable magnet and heavy rare earths needed to develop net zero carbon technologies.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Ionic Rare Earths
