Inspenet, June 1, 2023
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SCR) is a corporation engaged in technological research and development on behalf of the provincial government and private industry. The SRC has achieved a milestone by designing and manufacturing the first proprietary solvent extraction cell technology for rare earth element (REE) processing.
[post_relacionado]This achievement allows Canada to join the list of only a few countries with this capability. The SRC has manufactured commercial-scale solvent extraction cells for its rare earth processing plant, which is under construction and is expected to be fully operational by the end of next year.
The processing facility will produce high value REE and magnetic metals using REE ores. It is expected to be the first fully integrated commercial demonstration rare earth processing facility in North America.
The facility will have hydrometallurgical, separation and metal smelting capabilities. SRC is taking advantage of automation algorithms to manufacture cells to improve efficiency and productivity.
The research and technology organization opened a manufacturing plant in Saskatoon to make the cells. The facility will manufacture 140 cells by the end of 2023.
Canada Positions Strategically: SRC Drives Creation of Innovative Rare Earth Supply Chain
Minister responsible for SRC, Jeremy Harrison, commented: “The design, manufacture and automation of these solvent extraction cells right here in Saskatchewan are helping to develop an innovative and secure rare earth element supply chain in South America. North”.
The solvent extraction cells will be installed in the separation unit of the rare earth processing plant.
The cells are used to perform the separation of mixed rare earth chloride, a liquid mixture that contains all 17 elements of the rare earth group. The mixture separates into individual or grouped rare earth oxides.
Separated rare earth elements have many applications, such as the production of electric vehicles, cell phones, and wind turbines. REEs are also used in the defense industry.
“As SRC continues to develop its own commercial demonstration rare earth processing facility, it is developing additional expertise and new processes and technologies, such as solvent extraction cells, that will help position Saskatchewan as a leading edge. rare earth element concentrator,” said Mike Crabtree, SRC President and CEO.
“The cells have been developed with automation algorithms to improve both productivity and efficiency while being a cost-effective option, making them a benefit to both SRC facilities and the growing rare earth industry. in general,” he added.
Source : Rumbo Minero
Internal photo : Envato
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