A patent for ‘Extracting Vanadium’ might be trumpet by a patent for ‘Extracting Titanium’ but just happens to spit out Vanadium at the same time?
I could be wrong, but although there are a flotilla of mineral sands process engineering firms (Ausenco, GRES, METS, MSP, IHC Robbins) this TIVAN process configuration has some special herbs & spices which hopefully no one would be able to replicate immediately. A few years to get a plant built & then to reverse engineer, noting the patent protection sitting in the background as a looming discourager...
I still believe that the key for TNG & SMS is not just developing the process, but a full EPCM turnkey package - preferred suppliers, construction work packs, test packs, commissioning procedures, etc. If they build a comprehensive project management system from start to finish, no-one will be able to compete with TNG/SMS TIVAN plants, making them a process solution provider of choice.
Fail to do this & they will be at risk of imitators.
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