Rare earth metals are gaining increasing importance due to commercial disputes between developed countries and the current and emerging technologies that they enable in strategic and sensitive areas. Brazil holds large reserves of both light and heavy rare earth minerals, capable of meeting a significant portion of global demand. Rare earths are very similar chemical elements, found in minerals in combined forms, whose separation into individual elements is difficult to achieve. Additionally, they are highly reactive elements, whose reduction processes are complex and require specific techniques with various nuances.
Since 1993, our team has mastered the processes and techniques for reducing pure rare earth metals through molten salt electrolysis at high temperatures. We have built a specialized electrolytic reactor and designed a pilot reactor for obtaining light rare earths, from La to Eu. We have successfully reduced cerium oxide to metal with a purity of 99.9%.
Today, the Thermophysical Laboratory holds the developed knowledge and has the capability to implement electrometallurgical reactors for obtaining metallic rare earths, either individually or in combination, with possible extension to heavy rare earths.
Experimental, pilot, and industrial demonstration level, with future expansion planned.
Investors, mining companies, metallurgy enterprises, and other interested parties may contact us at: protolab@protolab.com.br
