American Resources Obtains Rare Earth Element Innovations

American Resources Corporation has acquired Hasler Ventures LLC, which holds rare earth element innovations developed by Purdue University in Indiana. According to foreign media. These innovations are environmentally safer methods of critical material separation and purification using ligand-assisted chromatography for coal, coal byproducts, recycled permanent magnets and lithium batteries.

Rare earth elements (REEs) include the 15 elements in the lanthanide series plus scandium and yttrium. They are essential ingredients for magnets, metal alloys, polishing powders, catalysts, ceramics, and phosphors, which are important for high-technology and clean energy applications. The global REE market is estimated at approximately $4 billion dollars and growing at 8% per year.

The use of ligand assisted displacement LAD chromatography to segregate and purify rare-earth and critical elements from coal byproducts is the most cost-efficient and environmentally safe method utilized to date. LAD chromatography as designed for rare-earth element extraction and purification is a much cleaner and greener purification process compared with conventional solvent-based extraction methods. It has a higher yield, productivity and efficiency allowing for smaller processing volumes without the harsh and toxic solvents. When used to clean up decades of coal waste and coal byproducts, it yields a triple benefit for the environment.

These exclusive patents and technologies, developed at Purdue University, are specific to the processing of separated and pure REEs and critical elements from coal byproducts, recycled permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries. The agreement will enable American Rare Earth LLC (or ARE), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Resources Corporation, to further develop and construct a much-needed environmentally safer domestic supply chain of critical materials.

American Resources Corporation can now promote the work of its U.S. rare earth subsidiary through two specific licenses, first, technologies for the separation and purification of REEs from coal, coal byproducts, coal waste and acid mine drainage, utilizing LAD chromatography. Second, technologies for the extraction and purification and critical elements from used or waste permanent magnets and batteries. Both technologies will be used by ARE to further develop its proprietary process chain for domestic commercialization and production of critical elements.

The company's CEO Mark Jensen said in a statement: "This is our common belief to participate in world market competition and build a strong domestic source of REEs. The United States cannot rely solely on current costs, and environmentally harmful solvent-based extraction methods."

Professor Linda Wang, Ph.D. from Purdue University added: "We are very pleased to cooperate with American Resources Corporation to implement our research, and look forward to working with their team to design a pilot plant and eventually a comprehensive production plant." American Resources Corporation, Purdue University and Wang co-sponsored a three-year research project to further advance the rare earth innovations and key processes.

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