Generally the timetable to get a new process out of the lab,...

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.