PROCESSING

VanadiumCorp buys processing technology IP

Canada-based mining and technology company VanadiumCorp has bought all patent rights for a vanadium chemicals processing technology it developed with Electrochem Technologies & Materials.

Lac Dore has been assessed as having one world’s largest undeveloped deposits of vanadiferous magnetite

Lac Dore has been assessed as having one world’s largest undeveloped deposits of vanadiferous magnetite

VanadiumCorp purchased the intellectual property portfolio covering VanadiumCorp-Electrochem Processing Technology (VEPT) by executing a patent purchase agreement previously agreed with Electrochem.

The company said its VEPT technology, invented by Dr Francois Cardarelli in 2017, offers a lower carbon footprint and maximum recovery of all metal values for vanadium, in contrast to pollutive and limited recovery methods currently being used.

"The acquisition of these IP assets further bolsters our patent portfolio surrounding the green and efficient recovery of vanadium," said VanadiumCorp's chief executive, Adriaan Bakker.  VEPT was developed as the central process option for VanadiumCorp's flagship Lac Dore Vanadium project in Quebec.

VEPT replaces conventional pyrometallurgical processes that use either direct soda ash roasting of the magnetite, followed by water leaching, or the arc smelting and slagging of the magnetite, followed by soda ash roasting of vanadium-rich slag.

Bakker added that his firm would be retaining Electrochem for scientific services in the next phase of pilot testing and production, to facilitate commercialisation of VEPT, and to help "formalise our development plans for our strategic mining assets".

The company said in October that an updated resource estimate for Lac Dore vanadium project had assessed it as one of the world's largest undeveloped deposits of vanadiferous magnetite, with in excess of 1.4-billion pounds of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) in magnetite concentrate.

Cardarelli, also Electrochem's president and owner, added, "I am pleased about the outcome of the provisioned buyout of VEPT to VanadiumCorp and Electrochem will continue to work with VanadiumCorp to speed up the commercialization of the technology, especially in Quebec but also abroad."

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions