Ionic Technologies International Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ionic Rare Earths. The company has developed rare earth element (REE) separation and refining technology and applied this to recover and separate individual rare earths from spent permanent magnets. The patented technology, developed at Queens University Belfast (QUB), offers first mover capability for individual magnet rare earth recycling – separating 99.9% plus magnet rare earth oxides (REO) to enable the energy transition, electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, and defense industries.
Rare earths are critical to the future of the net zero energy transition. The ever-increasing investment in wind energy and electric vehicles (EVs) drives the growing demand for these elements. Despite their name, many rare earths are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but unfortunately, they are challenging and expensive to extract and process. That’s where Ionic Technologies comes in. We set the standard for responsible product management. Our patented process enables the extraction of magnet rare earths already present in end-of-life magnets. We are making strides towards powering a sustainable future by recycling secure, sustainable, and traceable magnet rare earth oxides.
In September 2022, the UK Government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) awarded Ionic Technologies a grant of £1.7 million to develop a demonstration scale magnet recycling plant. The APC is a non-profit organisation that facilitates funding to UK based research and development projects developing low-carbon emission powertrain technologies. This new demonstration plant is now in operation, located in the Titanic Quarter, Belfast, UK. The facility has been equipped with state of the art analytical and hydrometallurgical laboratories, in addition to piloting and demonstration plant bays to progress the scale-up verification of the process. They have also established a technical centre at the plant to continue to develop the intellectual property for the development of both magnet recycling and heavy rare earth separation and refining for our own standalone refinery.
The scale up of the technology remains on track following the successful commencement of 24 /7 operations with high purity magnet REOs produced at the demonstration plant. This is a key step for the Company in commercialising the technology with potential strategic partners. Ionic Technologies are working on multiple government funded research projects and commercial partnerships looking at aiding the drive to Net Zero by evidencing the circular economy possibilities that the recycling technology presents. Ionic Technologies are also currently engaged in projects across multiple industry verticals such as Automotive, Renewable Energy, Consumer Electronics, Defence and Aerospace.
At present, Ionic Technologies is conducting a full feasibility study for the opening of a large scale commercial facility based on the Belfast Harbour estate and aim to begin construction of this facility in 2025.
