Australian Vanadium Ltd (AVL) has applied for patent protection for what it calls its unique processing circuit of processes to maximise recovery of the battery metal vanadium.
AVL has now progressed from a provisional application to filing a full international patent application to assist with the protection of intellectual property (IP) generated during the development of its proposed Western Australian vanadium project.
A distinctive feature of the patent application is the ability to economically recover vanadium from oxidised and transitional zones common to vanadium deposits worldwide, according to AVL.
The pyrometallurgy process utilises pelletisation and a grate-kiln for roasting, which has been shown to considerably improve vanadium extraction in comparison to conventional roasting.
The hydrometallurgy process includes a washing stage to produce a clean iron titanium coproduct.
A combination of nanofiltration and solvent extraction generates ultra-high purity vanadium for specialty applications.
Last month AVL received a grant under the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative Collaboration Stream to fund development of the company’s vanadium, iron and titanium resource at Gabanintha south of Meekatharra, where it will undertake crushing, milling and benefaction of the magnetite ores.
The resulting concentrate would be transported to Mullewa near the port of Geraldton where Australian Vanadium will produce vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) suitable for the critical mineral and battery market.
That will be further processed at a vanadium electrolyte manufacturing plant currently under construction at Kwinana south of Perth.
Work contributing to this patent application was partly funded by the Australian Government’s CRC-P grant.
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