Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extraction and Supply (IRENES)

Complete a FEED study to prove the technical and economic feasibility of the Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extraction and Supply (IRENES) project. A governing principle of this project is to maximize the value of a target coal mine waste stream with the highest efficiency extraction and processing efficiencies, minimize chemical inputs, and valorize (to the extent practical) all co- product streams. The principal objective is to validate an integrated process design that includes self-generated sulfuric acid, high-efficiency solvent extraction of target elements with minimized chemical consumption, and novel electrowinning of rare earth elements and specialized critical mineral products and co-products. The design basis includes the production of approximately 50 tonnes per year (tpy) of five (5) rare earth elements and high-purity aluminum (or oxide) from 300,000 tpy of Illinois mine waste.