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8-K - FORM 8-K - SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. | scy_8k.htm |
Exhibit
99.1
Scandium International Files for
Patent Protection on High Purity Alumina Manufacturing
Process
RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 27, 2021 / Scandium
International Mining Corp.
(TSX:SCY) ("Scandium International" or the
"Company") filed a final patent application with the US
Patent Office earlier this month, pertaining to the manufacture of
high purity alumina products ("HPA"). The patent application
outlines methods, chemistries, processes, and flowsheet design for
the manufacture of an HPA product, grading 4N+ purity (99.99%, or
better), from either aluminum-containing solution feedstocks,
alumina powders, or alumina precursor feedstocks. This application
represents a final submission for review and consideration of an
award of acceptance and grant.
It is
the Company's intent to pursue a business in high purity alumina,
and to employ the designs and methods contained in the patent
application to manufacture HPA, for application in both the LED
lighting industry and the lithium-ion battery
industry.
HIGHLIGHTS - "Process for the Preparation of High Purity
Alumina"
●
Final
application filed May 17, 2021, for US Patent Office
examination.
●
Defines
methods for refining aluminum feedstocks to HPA product
standards.
●
Includes
a multi-step process flowsheet, driven initially by acid
leaching.
●
Employs
solvent extraction, ion exchange, and other processes to achieve
4N+ HPA product grades.
●
Utilizes
a closed loop reagent recycling system that generates extremely low
levels of process residues and disposable waste, depending on
aluminum input source.
George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp.
commented:
"HPA is becoming more widely recognized as a critical
ingredient in a high-energy density lithium-ion battery. HPA is
also predicted to remain in supply deficit for much of the next
decade, provided the EV markets grow as forecast. The projects we
have assembled now, using ion exchange recoveries from copper
raffinates (CMR), and solvent extraction/ion exchange recoveries
for HPA, can generate a suite of critical metals specifically
suited for use in a lithium-ion battery. Market demand timing for
these products is excellent. Furthermore, these projects can be
located in USA/Canada, and they can produce products from existing
feedstocks without creating a new mine footprint."
DISCUSSION:
High
purity alumina represents a new product target for SCY, although
one that has been under consideration by the Company for several
years. SCY's recent focus on critical metals recovery ("CMR") from
copper raffinates, and other acidic processing solutions in mining
applications, raised the prospect of also extracting aluminum from
these same solutions. This opportunity formed the basis of a
separate provisional HPA patent in May 2020, with recovery and
purification concepts tailored to high purity HPA product. The May
2021 HPA final patent application now includes HPA technology
production claims related to a wider array of mine-based acidic
solution aluminum sources, along with claims for producing HPA from
smelter-grade alumina powders, and from alumina precursor
feedstocks as well.
The
specialty metals and chemicals industries fully understand the
challenge of consistently making products that meet the high purity
standards required in electrical and semi-conductor applications.
These high-quality standards are then generally matched by stronger
pricing and higher product margins, which is certainly the case for
HPA over common smelter-grade alumina. This opportunity reflects
the very high value applications for HPA today,
specifically:
●
LED lighting components. HPA is the
foundation for synthetic sapphire manufacture, forming substrates
for LED lights, and also for certain semiconductor
wafers.
●
Scratch-resistant glass. Synthetic
sapphire is used to form scratch-resistant lenses for wristwatch
faces, optical windows, and smartphone components.
●
Lithium-ion batteries (LiB's). HPA is
applied as a protective coating on separators in LiB's, adding
performance, longevity, and safety to high power-density battery
configurations. HPA will very likely be used for similar reasons in
future solid-state electrolyte and electrode designs.
The
Company plans to pursue an HPA development program, including
confirmation of both detailed technical production steps and
positive initial financial projections, with the intent to enter
the HPA business. The HPA effort will focus on Europe and the
USA/Canada, both as to markets and production location. HPA
initiatives may or may not involve partnering efforts with other
companies, depending on the aluminum feedstock source, and other
project or partner specifics.
The HPA
project effort will be pursued in parallel with our efforts to
secure a copper mine host for a project to develop our CMR program,
as previously reported.
It is
the Company's intent to add a series of related metal recovery
business opportunities alongside the Nyngan Scandium Project, which
has otherwise been SCY's primary project and product focus. This
change reflects a marketplace priority for production of identified
critical metals from new, local sources. Scandium is clearly
identified as a critical metal, but it finds nickel and cobalt
companions in many orebodies. That fact, along with the Company's
CMR capability, has broadened the immediate product opportunity for
SCY. This strategy reflects SCY's desire to build a suite of
projects that can deliver products tailored directly to lithium-ion
battery markets, and specifically to battery components that have
application in the electric vehicle industry.
SCY's
critical metals recovery programs, including scandium and now HPA,
are supported by a series of patent-protected processes and pending
protections, filing-date preserved. With these process technology
underpinnings in place, and projects scoped, the Company is in
position to undertake advanced HPA development and piloting, and to
work with project partners, where we require or desire
them.
ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
The
Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project,
located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only
producing mine. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in
May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan
Scandium Project." The project has received all key
approvals, including a development consent and a mining lease,
necessary to proceed with project construction.
The
Company is also currently pursuing CMR opportunities with various
copper industry groups, where SCY proposes to employ ion exchange
technology to extract unrecovered critical metals from existing
mine process streams. This program represents a fast-track concept
to make battery-grade nickel and cobalt products, scandium master
alloy product, and other critical metals, from North American
sources. The Company is similarly pursuing HPA opportunities, both
in conjunction with CMR where that is possible, and also
independently as a stand-alone project.
Willem
Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a
qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and
approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of
the Company.
For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please
contact:
Edward
Dickinson (CFO)
Tel:
(775) 233-7328
George Putnam
(CEO)
Tel:
(925) 208-1775
Email:
info@scandiummining.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the
Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements
that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to
statements regarding any future development of the project. The
forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to
various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the
Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from
those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These
risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation:
risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium including
scandium alloys and other products produced using the Company's
proprietary technologies such as HPA,the possibility that results
of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the
perceived market utilization and potential. Forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of
the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than
as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not
assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if
those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances,
should change.
SOURCE: Scandium International Mining Corp