An environmentally safer method of rare earth and other critical material separation and purification using ligand-assisted chromatography for coal, coal byproducts, recycled permanent magnets and Lithium Ion batteries
FISHERS, IN / ACCESSWIRE / February 2, 2021 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources" or the "Company"), a next generation and socially responsible supplier of raw materials to the new infrastructure marketplace, today announced that, with the addition of Hasler Ventures LLC, the Company has licensed ligand assisted displacement ("LAD") chromatography patents and knowhow to further expanded its capability in environmentally friendly separation and purification of rare earth elements. These exclusive patents and technologies, developed at Purdue University, are specific to the processing of separated and pure rare earth metals and critical elements from coal byproducts, recycled permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries. The agreement will enable American Rare Earth LLC (or "ARE"), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Resources Corporation, to further develop and construct a much-needed environmentally safer domestic supply chain of critical materials.
Rare earth elements (REEs) include the 15 elements in the lanthanide series plus scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y). They are essential ingredients for magnets, metal alloys, polishing powders, catalysts, ceramics, and phosphors, which are important for high-technology and clean energy applications. The global REE market is estimated at approximately $4 billion dollars and growing at 8% per year.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels commented, "We've long been proud of Professor Wang and her research. If this comes to fruition, it could be a very vital new asset in protecting our country's national security and manufacturing competitiveness."
American Rare Earth's agreements with Hasler Ventures LLC comes in the form of two exclusive licenses: (1) technologies for the separation and purification of rare earth elements from coal, coal byproducts, coal waste and acid mine drainage, utilizing LAD chromatography, and (2) technologies for the extraction and purification of rare earth and critical elements from used or waste permanent magnets and batteries. Both technologies will be used by ARE to further develop its proprietary process chain for domestic commercialization and production of rare earth and critical elements.
LAD Chromatography / Coal Byproducts
The use of LAD chromatography to segregate and purify rare earth and critical elements from coal byproducts is the most cost effective and environmentally safest methods utilized to date. LAD chromatography as designed for rare earth element extraction and purification is a much cleaner and greener purification process compared to conventional solvent-based extraction methods. It has a higher yield, productivity and efficiency allowing for smaller processing volume without the harsh or toxic chemicals. When used to clean up decades of coal waste and coal byproducts, it yields a triple benefit for the environment.
Magnet & Battery Recycling
Waste magnets make an incredibly efficient feedstock for the recycling of magnet rare earth elements including Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), Samarium (Sm), Terbium (Tb) and Dysprosium (Dy), given that they carry an approximate 25-35 wt. % of rare earth oxide, have a very simple mineral composition and are considered a super-grade ore. It is estimated that approximately $3 billion worth of rare earth elements end up in landfills annually given the disposal of end-of-life products. Thus, the recycling and reducing to the pure elements in permanent magnets and batteries from sources such as hard disk drives, electric vehicles, NMR machines and wind turbines significantly reduce waste that goes into landfills, reduces the mining-based environmental impact, and mitigates the supply chain risk.
Hasler Ventures was formed by Dan Hasler who retired from Purdue University in March 2020. At that time, Hasler Ventures optioned the technology. Hasler served Purdue as executive vice president for communications and previously served five years as president of Purdue Research Foundation where he became familiar with Wang's work.
"Linda has dedicated more than 10 years of research to developing this process and her innovation is one of the most promising and environmentally safer methods to separate and purify rare-earth metals," Hasler said. "There is a lot of interest in this technology because it could support the U.S. domestic supply chain to safely purify this critical resource currently done almost exclusively in China which makes us dependent on them even though we have the raw materials available in the U.S."
Mark Jensen, CEO of American Resources said, "Working with Purdue and Hasler Ventures to commercialize such an impressive suite of technologies that are of major importance to national security and the growth of the electrification marketplace is an honor for our company. Their teams have been nothing short of amazing, as they have fully embraced the need to rapidly scale to a commercial process to produce rare-earth and critical elements from available domestic sources. It is our shared belief that to compete in the world markets and to establish a robust domestic source of rare-earth metals, the United States cannot solely rely on the current costly and environmentally harming methods of solvent-based extraction. Linda Wang's method represents this path."
Dr. Linda Wang, the Maxine Spencer Nichols Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, commented, "We're excited about partnering with American Rare Earth and American Resources on the implementation of our research. We look forward to working with their team on the design of a pilot production facility and an eventual full-scale production plant."
In connection with the exclusive patent licenses for its fields of use, American Resources has committed to a three-year sponsored research program with Purdue University and Dr. Wang to further advance the technologies and critical processes. In addition, Dan Hasler of Hasler Ventures LLC will represent American Resources in subsequent sub-licensing and partnership opportunities and as an advisor to the company.
About American Resources Corporation
American Resources Corporation is a next-generation, environmentally and socially responsible supplier of high-quality raw materials to the new infrastructure market. The Company is focused on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon, an essential ingredient used in steelmaking, critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market, and reprocessed metal to be recycled. American Resources has a growing portfolio of operations located in the Central Appalachian basin of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia where premium quality metallurgical carbon and rare earth mineral deposits are concentrated.
American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model centered on growth, which provides a significant opportunity to scale its portfolio of assets to meet the growing global infrastructure and electrification markets while also continuing to acquire operations and significantly reduce their legacy industry risks. Its streamlined and efficient operations are able to maximize margins while reducing costs. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
We believe the key to a secure domestic supply chain of Rare Earth Metals and strategic independence in Rare Earth Metals from China is the ability to separate, and purify in an economical, environmentally friendly way. Our Purdue University invented and patented Ligand -Assisted Displacement Chromatography offers this capability to U.S producers of both recycled and ore sourced rare earth metals.
About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization
The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office recently moved into the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2019, the office reported 136 deals finalized with 231 technologies signed, 380 disclosures received and 141 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.
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SOURCE: American Resources Corporation