Indiana-Based Company Relies on Groundbreaking Purdue Technology to Reduce the Global Gap in a Critical Sector
Introduction
In today’s tech-driven world, a myriad of essential products, from smartphones and magnets to electric vehicles, semiconductors, and wind turbines, heavily rely on rare earth metals (REEs) for optimal performance. The escalating demand for these crucial products has created an urgent need for domestic production of REEs. However, the United States currently lags behind countries like China in this regard, possessing only a fraction of the global REE raw ore production and lacking any refining capacity. Recognizing the gravity of this situation, Purdue University has stepped forward to address this challenge by collaborating with Indiana-based ReElement Technologies. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world in this critical industry.
Purdue’s Pioneering Technology
Purdue University’s patented rare earth technology, developed by Professor Nien-Hwa Linda Wang’s research team, employs ligand-assisted chromatography to effectively separate and purify REEs and other critical elements from diverse sources, including coal, coal byproducts, ores, recycled permanent magnets, and lithium-ion batteries. This groundbreaking technology has empowered ReElement Technologies to establish an environmentally sustainable domestic supply chain for critical materials and offer this capability to U.S. producers of both recycled and ore-sourced rare earth metals.
Purdue-ReElement Partnership: A Catalyst for Progress
The partnership between Purdue University and ReElement Technologies represents a significant milestone in the effort to address the nation’s critical materials needs. Purdue’s innovative technology provides ReElement with a competitive edge in developing and constructing a much-needed domestic supply chain for critical materials. This collaboration exemplifies the university’s commitment to supporting inventors and entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth.
The Significance of Rare Earth Elements
The 17 distinct REEs play a vital role in various advanced technologies, serving as key ingredients for magnets, metal alloys, polishing powders, catalysts, ceramics, and phosphors. These materials are essential for high-tech and clean energy applications. Notably, REEs such as cerium, europium, gadolinium, lanthanum, terbium, and yttrium are indispensable in semiconductor production. Any disruption in their supply could severely impact the ongoing U.S. efforts to reestablish a domestic semiconductor industry.
Addressing Critical Questions and Challenges
Purdue University’s Professor John Sutherland highlights the importance of addressing several critical questions related to the nation’s reliance on critical materials like REEs. These questions encompass the exploration of new domestic sources for these materials, the identification of alternative materials with comparable effectiveness, and the development of methods to recover critical materials from used products, such as batteries and electronic devices. Purdue’s technology offers promising solutions to these challenges and holds the potential to devise key solutions to this pressing issue.
A Growing Global Market
According to a recent Rare Earth Metals Global Market Report, the industry experienced substantial growth, expanding from $6.58 billion in 2022 to $7.29 billion in 2023, representing an increase of over 10% year-over-year. Experts predict continued growth, projecting the global market to reach nearly $10 billion by 2027. The value of products that rely on REEs is estimated to exceed $4 trillion per year, highlighting the immense significance of these materials in various industries.
ReElement Technologies: A Driving Force for Innovation
Ben Wrightsman, President of ReElement Technologies and a Purdue electrical engineering alumnus, emphasizes the rapidly growing demand for high-purity rare earth and critical minerals in both commercial and national security applications. ReElement is committed to delivering exceptional performance not only for its shareholders but also for the nation as it scales its production of high-purity battery and magnet-grade materials. The company’s partnership with Purdue provides a solid foundation for ongoing investment in technology advancement and application expansion.
Purdue’s Commitment to Collaboration and Innovation
The collaboration between Purdue University and ReElement Technologies exemplifies Purdue’s unwavering commitment to partnering with Indiana-based companies. This initiative will receive a significant boost with the launch of Purdue University in Indianapolis in July 2024. As Purdue’s first comprehensive urban campus, it will serve as a collaborative platform to connect with businesses, foster groundbreaking research, and address real-world needs, such as rare earth elements production, for the benefit of the city, state, and nation.
Purdue’s Leadership in Microelectronics
Purdue University has established itself as a leading force in microelectronics, encompassing materials, devices, chip design, tool development, manufacturing, packaging, and sustainability. The university’s growing semiconductor innovation ecosystem, supported by the Purdue Computes initiative, includes substantial investments in new facilities and tools. This ecosystem’s accessibility to Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana’s statewide community college, further strengthens workforce development and brain gain strategies within the state.
ReElement Technologies: A Pioneer in Sustainable Material Recovery
ReElement Technologies, headquartered in Fishers, Indiana, is a subsidiary of American Resources Corp. (NASDAQ: AREC). The company utilizes high-value technologies to produce isolated and purified rare earth elements and battery elements. Its innovative platform enables the utilization of a cost-effective and environmentally conscious process to isolate and purify elements on a scalable basis. ReElement’s technology offers a versatile solution for refining manufacturing waste, recycled permanent magnets, lithium-based batteries, black mass, and virgin ores.
Conclusion
The partnership between Purdue University and ReElement Technologies represents a transformative step towards narrowing the international gap in the critical rare earth elements sector. Purdue’s groundbreaking technology provides a competitive advantage for ReElement in developing a sustainable domestic supply chain for critical materials. This collaboration is a testament to Purdue’s commitment to fostering innovation, addressing real-world challenges, and driving economic growth. As the demand for REEs continues to rise, this partnership positions the United States to play a leading role in meeting this demand and securing its position in the global supply chain.