Generally the timetable to get a new process out of the lab, through pilot plant stage and into industrial scale plant is at least 5-7 years and a billion dollars is easily spent before any reasonable percentage return on capital occurs - think HBI and HiSmelt - usually it is done by major players that invest that kind of cash for a globally significant play in the commodity concerned.
Not saying it can't happen, but unlikely to occur without a seriously big player involved.
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