If Successful Would Strengthen Uses of Proprietary Technology and Create Further Potential for Licensing and Partnerships with Rare Earths Element Market.
HOUSTON, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Metallium Ltd. ((ASX: MTM, OTCQX:MTMCF) announced it is expanding its research collaboration with scientists at Rice University to determine if Flash Joule Heating (FJH) Technology can go further than currently and directly separate individual rare earth elements. The research is designed to simplify or even bypass the breakthroughs in upgrading REE feedstocks across traditional flow sheets. Unlike conventional sulphuric-acid circuits, FJH delivers a more elegant and efficient solution producing high-value intermediates that are directly compatible with existing solvent extraction (SX) separation plants. This provides Western developers with a plug-in midstream solution today, while building a pathway to reduce reliance on China in the future.
"Today, REE separation is dominated by SX, which requires huge industrial plants with very large footprints, high capital and operating costs, and commission timelines that can stretch for years," explained Michael Walshe, Metallium Managing Director & CEO. He explained that more than 90 percent of this capacity is in China and recent Chinese export restrictions on magnet alloy exports have forced automakers to suspend production, underlining the fragility of supply chains and the urgency of alternatives.
"Our technology has already demonstrated its ability to upgrade multiple REE feedstocks into SX-ready products, providing Western supply chains a midstream solution today. In parallel, our Rice University collaboration is tackling the next frontier: using FJH to separate individual REEs directly, potentially bypassing solvent extraction," Walshe said. He noted that with SX plants taking years, vast capex and footprint and massive solvent use, even partial success could be transformative. "Our continuing effort with Rice positions Metallium for near-term revenue from partnerships and licensing, and long-term leadership in REE-refining."
Walshe said that the company plans to deliver case studies across a variety of feedstocks as it works with Rice in further expanding the FJH technology.
Additional information can be found at https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02982558-6A1279790&v=4a466cc3f899e00730cfbfcd5ab8940c41f474b6.
Metallium Ltd. (https://www.metalliuminc.com) is pioneering a low-carbon, high efficiency approach to recovering critical and precious metals from mineral concentrates and high-grade waste streams. The company's patented Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology enables the extraction of high-value materials – including gallium, germanium, antimony, rare earth elements and gold – from feedstocks such as refinery, scrap, e-waste and monazite.
Aligned with U.S. strategic supply chain objectives, Metallium has recently secured its first commercial site in Texas via its wholly owned subsidiary, Flash Metals USA Inc. and recently announced plans for two additional already-permitted sites in Massachusetts and Virginia.
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SOURCE MTM Critical Metals Ltd.
