Bayan Mining and Minerals Ltd. has partnered with the University of Queensland (UQ) to launch a research programme aimed at optimising its exclusive yttrium processing technology.
The three-month Phase 1 research programme will evaluate and refine the company’s exclusively licensed Yttrium Upgrade Processing Technology Patent.
Originally developed by the Colorado School of Mines, the patented ion exchange process is designed to selectively upgrade and separate high-value yttrium and heavy rare earth elements (HREE) from mixed rare earth streams.
The study is being led by Professor James Vaughan and UQ’s Hydrometallurgy Research Group, who are widely recognised for their expertise in critical minerals processing.
The team is currently utilising mixed hydroxide materials from Queensland’s rare-earth-rich Mary Kathleen mine tailings, doped with yttrium and select heavy rare earths, to simulate various global feedstocks and test the limits of the process.
Bayan’s CEO Nathan Kong said: “The Phase 1 Research Programme marks an important step in Bayan’s strategy to build upon the work started by the Colorado School of Mines.
“By partnering with UQ’s Hydrometallurgy Research Group, we are aiming to generate the independent, high-quality technical data required to optimise the Yttrium Upgrade Patent and position the technology for pilot-scale assessment.”
Kong added that a successful trial would equip Bayan with a compelling technology platform to licence to third-party developers seeking improved separation solutions.
“Through this program, we intend to better define the operating window, resin performance and feedstock compatibility of the process across Australian and international rare earth projects,” he said.
The laboratory testing will compare the performance of two different iminodiacetic acid (IDA) resins under varying temperatures and flow rates to determine the most efficient extraction parameters.
Technical data gathered during this phase will directly inform the design, scale, and configuration of a future pilot-scale testing programme.
