Seymour Ventures’ wholly owned subsidiary Rare Earth Industries (REI) has invested in developing environmentally-sensitive methods of solvent extraction for processing of rare earths. In addition, the company has added Dr. Shyama (Sam) P. Sinha, to REI’s Advisory Board to further its goal of becoming a low-cost processor of rare earths and rare metals. Sinha’s research uses environmentally-friendly methods to process and separate rare earth elements from one another. This approach is different from the global industry standard use of hydrochloric acid or nitric acid. His formula is expected to be substantially more biodegradable than the industry standard rare earth reagents, as well as more efficient than the industry standard process.
Former US rare earth commodity specialist for the US Geological Survey, and REI Advisory Board member, James Hedrick, noted, “Dr. Sinha is probably one of the most important solvent extraction experts today. His research and technology breakthroughs in the use of organic solvents could have a major impact on the rare earths processing industry, in terms of efficiency, costs and sustainability.”
REI president Alastair Neill, who has more than 15 years of rare earth industry experience both inside and outside of China suggests, “As a company, we remain committed to more cost-effective means to process materials. Based on our understanding of Dr. Sinha’s process, the number of steps necessary for separation should be reduced. This process may allow us to simplify, and reduce environmental impact of, processing and separations of rare earths.”
Dr. Sam Sinha has a Masters in Chemistry from Bucknell University, Pa, and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Leeds, England. His PhD thesis is a study of the solvent extraction of rare earths. He has written two books on the rare earths and some 90 original research papers. Sinha directed a NATO Advanced Studies Institute on the Systematics and the Properties of the Lanthanides. He has been an invited lecturer in many national and international symposia.
REI has entered into an exclusive due diligence period, during which time the company will investigate the potential of applying Sinha’s patentable technology in a commercial setting. Upon successful due diligence, REI has an agreement to purchase Sinha’s development, and to make an investment into the commercialization of a unique process for the environmentally-friendly separations of rare earths on an industrial scale.
REI is a mineral exploration company that is focused on building an industrial enterprise focused on the high-value processing and separations of rare earth elements and rare metals. The company was formed by executives from the fields of specialised rare earths geology, mine development, chemical processing, and marketing and distribution of finished rare earths products. REI is focused on developing an environmentally sustainable supply chain for rare earths and rare metals sourced entirely outside of China. Rare earth elements are used in magnets for electric vehicles, display screens for electronics, rechargeable batteries and other high-demand products.
