IXR (ASX) General Chat / Discussion

Originally posted by skijapan: ↑

You do realize that Mkango has one of the largest long loop recycling operations in the UK already, held through its subsidiary, Mkango UK?

The operation is based at Tyseley Energy Park, adjacent to the HyProMag UK operation.

The company stated the following in its 29 November quarterly update:

"Mkango UK recently commissioned a long-loop recycling pilot plant at Tyseley, which processes NdFeB magnet

scrap or swarf to produce rare earth carbonates and oxides via a chemical route.

This complements the short-loop recycling plant currently being commissioned by HyProMag and University of

Birmingham also at Tyseley, which processes NdFeB magnet scrap to produce rare earth alloys and magnets.

Both long-loop and short-loop recycling technologies are underpinned by the patented HPMS technology developed

at University of Birmingham, which liberates magnets from end-of-life scrap streams in a cost effective and energy

efficient way to produce a recycled NdFeB alloy powder, which is manufactured into a magnet (via the short loop

process) or into a rare earth carbonate or oxide (via the long loop chemical process).

Optimisation of long-loop pilot operations is underway, targeting near-term pilot scale production of the first 50kg

batch of rare earth carbonates and oxides, in parallel with completion of scoping studies and evaluation of options to

advance long loop recycling via stand-alone development, joint venture or other commercial arrangements. The long

loop recycling route is used to process NdFeB HPMS powder not suitable for short-loop recycling or for the processing

of magnet swarf (i.e. the powder produced from grinding and finishing magnets). "

......

The reason it's not discussed much, as it really is nothing compared to the HyProMag operation. Although Mkango UK will be commercial in itself (albeit on a smallish scale), a major reason for its development is for the MKA team to understand the (many) advantages of HyProMag over all other (chemical-based) REE recyclers across the world. Understanding how the competition works, and how HyProMag's unique technology crushes it.IMO

We don't need to partner with Ionic (or any other chemical-based REE recycler), as we can do everything in-house: both hydrogen-based recycling that absolutely no one else can do; and chemical-based recycling, that anyone can really do, as there isn't much IP in that space.

Expand

HyProMag UK, the technology developed at University of Birmingham delveloped hydrogen processing with scrap magnets, using hydrogen decrepitation (HPMS) to reduce the magnet back into powder, the powder is then collected and the pressed back into a new magnets, all in house,

but there's a downside with that technology, if the scrap metal magnet has low quality magnet products those recycled magnets will have same quality, this is short loop recycling, If HyProMag wants to produce high quality magnets they will need to use very high quality scrap magnets and thats a huge challenge.

As you can see from this chart below with Magnet Qualities

Here is the proof in this video

Scrapping hard drives etc are low quality magnets

The other alternative is long loop recycling, taking the magnet back to high purity Rare Earth Oxides which is more pure than recycling HyProMag and then converted into High Magnet Alloys and metals and giving Magnet makers the higher specifications needed for the magnets used in high end applications

Ionic Technologies can do this

And right this very moment IXRs, Ionic Technologies will be proving it

Ionic Technologies and Less Common Metals who are supply Ford with 100% recycled REOs for Ford PUMA Eclectric Powertrain

ALSO IXR, LCM and VAC Project