“The processing patent application by AVL is another important milestone along the way to production for the company, further enabling the development of the project, and meeting growing demand for vanadium globally,” says MD.
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has applied for an international patent for its vanadium processing circuit, moving to protect intellectual property (IP) generated during the bankable feasibility study conducted on AVL’s flagship project.
The IP concerns AVL’s processing circuit, which consists of an innovative combination of processes to maximise vanadium recovery, and especially the ability to economically recover vanadium from oxidised and transitional zones, common to vanadium-titanium magnetite (VTM) deposits worldwide.
This patent application is recognised across 156 countries through the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and work contributing to this application was partially funded by the Australian Government’s research and development grant.
Important milestone toward development
“The processing patent application by AVL is another important milestone along the way to production for the company, further enabling the development of the project, and meeting growing demand for vanadium globally,” Australian Vanadium managing director Vincent Algar said.
“One of AVL’s many strengths is the depth of vanadium knowledge within the team and its associates.
“The innovative work by the team during the study phase has culminated in an insightful processing circuit that has benefits to AVL and the wider vanadium industry.”
Following a provisional patent application submission in 2021, AVL has now progressed to filing a full international patent application.
AVL’s patent application protects multiple elements of its processing circuit, including:
The pyrometallurgic process: using pelletisation and a grate-kiln for roasting, this process has been shown to considerably improve extraction in comparison to conventional roasting
The hydrometallurgy process: includes a washing stage that produces a clean iron titanium co-product.
Nanofiltration and solvent extraction: Combined, these processes generate ultra-high purity vanadium for specialty applications, producing vanadium of a purity greater than 99.9%.
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