ReElement Technologies, a portfolio company of American Resources, has secured $2m from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance domestic refining capacities for rare earth elements (REEs).
The move is part of the US’ broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign sources and strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical minerals, aligning with national defence priorities.
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The funding was provided through the DoD’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, specifically the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program.
ReElement will use the proceeds to address challenges related to the sourcing and purification of REEs.
According to ReElement, its modular, multi-mineral refining platform is the only scalable US-based solution capable of economically separating and purifying both heavy and light REEs.
The company said that its REE separation process uses advanced chromatographic separation methods to achieve ultra-high purity levels (99.5%+) of critical oxides such as neodymium, dysprosium and terbium.
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By GlobalDataIt also processes feedstocks including ores and recycled materials at its Indiana facility, contributing to the DoD’s goal of establishing a ‘mine-to-magnet’ supply chain by 2027.
The refining platform was initially developed from pharmaceutical purification techniques at Purdue University. It was eventually adapted to effectively separate rare earths and critical minerals.
ReElement Technologies CEO Mark Jensen said: “Today, ReElement Technologies is economically producing separated elements at 99.9% to 99.999% purity levels for both commercial and defence applications. We believe it is imperative that the US have a sustainable midstream to support a comprehensive critical mineral supply chain.
“Our 42-acre refining campus in Marion, Indiana, has the capability to supply a majority – if not all – of the rare earth and critical minerals required by the defence industry through a cost-competitive, scalable platform powered by our patented technologies.”
REEs such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are essential for advanced magnets used in defence and commercial applications.
