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https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/arafura-resources-asx-aru-technical-analysis#:~:text=This%20process%20was%20developed%20in,rare%20earths%20have%20been%20removed.

Process Testing

Arafura Resources has run 4 years of piloting on this flowsheet. This started out with 15t-20t ore from Nolans which was obtained through large-diameter bore drilling. The material was put through every stage of the flowsheet. Since there were 7 stages in the process, the company carried out the work in stages. The company did not need to build an integrated pilot plant as it wasn’t required. The final NdPr product is sent off to metallization partners that develop the product into NdPr metal. Next, the NdPr metal is sent to magnet manufacturers to produce permanent magnets. The metallization partners and the magnet manufacturers have been highly satisfied with the company’s product.

There are 3 main processes that are used for separating rare earth oxides. There was a process developed in France where the company used a nitric acid process where the rare earths are dissolved in nitric acid and separated through solvent extraction.

Linus Corporation utilises the sulphate process for separation. Both of these processes are highly cost-intensive and require a huge plant and high operating costs.

Meanwhile, Arafura Resources utilises a hydrochloric acid process. It works with a rare earth chloride that can be run on a smaller scale as it is run at much higher concentrations. As the process isn’t simple, the development wouldn’t have been possible without piloting. When the flow rates, concentration, and temperature is stable throughout the whole SX circuit, the chemicals are stabilised and tend to work really well. Arafura Resources ran the pilot plant at ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology) for the separation circuits. This pilot ran for 2 weeks and produced really good quality material in the end.

It was important for the company to precipitate out the final product. As the company was aiming for a 99.5% rare earth oxide product, it couldn’t afford to have any sodium, chlorides, or sulphates in the final product. This is a fairly complicated process and the company is currently building it into its design. The company has 7-day liquor storage in front of the solvent extraction. Once the solvent is stabilised, the company can keep running the process regardless of what is happening in the rest of the circuit.