American Resources Corporation's ReElement Technologies Expands Rare Earth Element Purification Capacity
Rhea-AI Summary
American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC) has announced the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art preparative scale sequential simulated moving bed (SSMB) production unit at its ReElement Technologies subsidiary. This marks the third dedicated chromatography operating line at their Noblesville, Indiana facility, significantly expanding their rare earth element purification capacity.
The new equipment enhances the facility's daily refinement capacity for key rare earth elements including neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb) at 99.5%+ purity. ReElement's platform utilizes Ligand Assisted Displacement (LAD) chromatography, offering a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution compared to traditional methods.
The technology provides key advantages including aqueous chemistry eliminating toxic solvents, lower capital expenditures, high versatility across various feedstocks, and modular scalability. ReElement is currently the only rare earth oxide producer economically separating and refining heavy rare earth elements in the U.S.
Positive
- First and only U.S. company economically refining heavy rare earth elements
- Expansion of production capacity with third chromatography line
- Achievement of 99.5%+ purity in rare earth oxide production
- Lower capital expenditure requirements compared to traditional methods
- Environmentally friendly processing without toxic solvents
Negative
- None.
Insights
American Resources 's announcement regarding ReElement Technologies' capacity expansion represents a significant development in the critical minerals refining space. The commissioning of a third chromatography line enhances their capability to produce high-purity rare earth oxides including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium - elements essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense applications.
While the announcement lacks specific details on production volume increases or financial projections, the strategic value is substantial. ReElement claims to be the only economically viable domestic producer refining heavy rare earth elements in the U.S., positioning it uniquely in a market largely dominated by Chinese refiners. The company's proprietary Ligand Assisted Displacement technology appears to offer meaningful advantages over conventional methods, including reduced environmental impact and lower capital requirements.
The modular, scalable nature of their refining platform provides flexibility to match growing demand, while potentially accelerating revenue generation from what they describe as "growing order commitments." For investors, this capacity expansion represents tangible progress in commercializing their technology, though the timeline to significant revenue generation remains unclear.
The rare earth element market represents a strategic growth opportunity given increasing demand from green energy and defense sectors, with domestic production capacity particularly valuable amid ongoing supply chain concerns. However, this small-cap company (
Newly commissioned equipment increases daily production of light (Nd, Pr) and heavy (Dy, Tb) rare earth oxides at
ReElement's multi-mineral, multi-feedstock refining platform is the only rare earth oxide producer economically separating and refining heavy rare earth elements in the U.S.
FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / March 12, 2025 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources" or the "Company through its holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation ("ReElement"), a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth, critical defense and battery elements, today announced the recent commissioning of a state-of-the-art preparative scale sequential simulated moving bed (SSMB) production unit, marking a significant advancement in its processing capabilities for the refining of critical minerals. The Company is leading the domestic market and is committed to delivering and deploying the most efficient refinery platform for critical materials, including rare earth elements, battery materials, and other strategic defense materials including antimony and other metals, with unprecedented speed.
This new commissioned equipment marks the third dedicated chromatography operating line within the Noblesville, Indiana facility, with each designed for specific rare earth and critical elements. This processing expansion will increase the facility's daily refinement capacity of key rare earth elements, including neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) while also broadening the range of minerals which the platform can address and accelerating its speed to market.
Yi Ding, CTO of ReElement Technologies commented, "By investing in the latest technology tools, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence, scientific advancement, and delivering the most scalable and versatile refinery solutions in the world. We look forward to leveraging this new capability to push the boundaries of innovation and accelerate progress in refining critical materials."
Mark Jensen, CEO of ReElement Technologies added, "We are grateful for our domestic equipment partners and their ability to deliver critical mineral refining equipment precisely to our specifications while exceeding expected delivery timelines. Our team continues to remain dedicated to leading the domestic market by providing efficient solutions that drive our nation toward mineral independence while fulfilling our growing order commitments. This additional purification capacity showcases the modularity of our refining platform and enhances our ability to deliver high-purity oxides to our customers."
Ligand Assisted Displacement ("LAD") Chromatographic Separation and Purification
The use of LAD chromatography to separate, purify and refine rare earth and critical elements is the most cost effective and environmentally safe methods available today. Specifically designed for rare earth element extraction and purification, LAD chromatography offers a cleaner and greener purification process compared to conventional solvent-based extraction methods. It provides superior yield, productivity, flexibility and efficiency enabling smaller and scalable processing volume without the harsh or toxic chemicals.
This advanced separation and purification technology offers key benefits, including:
Aqueous Chemistry - Eliminates the need for toxic and hazardous organic solvents, making the process safer and more environmentally friendly.
Lower Capital Expenditures - A few chromatography units can replace hundreds or even thousands of mixer-settlers to achieve the same throughput and product requirements.
High Versatility - An intrinsic-parameter-based design and predictive simulation tools allow for rapid, adaptable refining across various feedstocks and production scales.
Modular and Scalable Capacity - Easily expands processing volumes in alignment with growing feedstock availability.
Localized Processing - Reduces the need for raw ore transportation across the globe, strengthening supply chain security and efficiency.
Learn more about ReElement Technologies' process and technology here - Video.
About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. Its multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform technology focuses on the refining of recycled material from rare earth permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, concentrated ores and brines, as well as coal-based waste streams and byproducts to create a cost effective and environmentally-safe, circular supply chain. ReElement has developed its innovative and scalable "Powered by ReElement" process which collaboratively utilizes its exclusively licensed intellectual property within its partners' material processing flow sheets to more efficiently support the global supply chain's growing demand for magnet and battery-grade products. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About American Resources Corporation
American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ: AREC) is a next-generation, environmentally and socially responsible supplier of high-quality raw materials to the new infrastructure market. The Company is focused on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon, an essential ingredient used in steelmaking, critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market, and reprocessed metal to be recycled. American Resources has a growing portfolio of operations located in the Central Appalachian basin of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia where premium quality metallurgical carbon and rare earth mineral deposits are concentrated.
American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model centered on growth, which provides a significant opportunity to scale its portfolio of assets to meet the growing global infrastructure and electrification markets while also continuing to acquire operations and significantly reduce their legacy industry risks. Its streamlined and efficient operations are able to maximize margins while reducing costs. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.
Investor Contact:
JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
908-824-0775
AREC@jtcir.com
Media Inquiries:
Marjorie Weisskohl
703-587-1532
mweisskohl@allseasonspr.com
Company Contact:
Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com
SOURCE: American Resources Corporation
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
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