Metallium (ASX: MTM) Broadens Critical-Metals Pipeline With New Test Results

Metallium Limited has reported new Flash Joule Heating test results across rare earths, germanium, platinum group metals and red mud.

The Materials company said the campaigns demonstrate applications beyond its flagship electronic-waste processing business. Electronic waste remains its immediate commercial priority and planned pathway to first operations.

The results matter because they test whether one processing platform can address several distinct critical-metal feedstocks. Industry participants requested testing across defence, manufacturing and critical minerals. However, Metallium disclosed no new commercial agreements or financial terms.

Rare-earth ore upgraded directly

Metallium converted raw, unbeneficiated rare-earth ore containing about 12% total rare-earth oxides into a mixed rare-earth chloride product. The resulting product contained more than 83% rare-earth chlorides by weight.

The single, unoptimised processing cycle also delivered more than fourfold enrichment of neodymium and praseodymium. These elements are used in permanent magnets.

The ore had only been crushed and ground before treatment. It had not undergone conventional beneficiation or concentration.

Metallium said the process could simplify the front end of rare-earth processing if it is successfully optimised and scaled. The chloride intermediate is compatible with conventional downstream separation and refining technologies.

Further optimisation and testing are underway. The company is also continuing rare-earth collaborations with Meteoric Resources and Ucore Rare Metals.

Germanium recovered from three waste streams

Meanwhile, Metallium achieved germanium enrichment across three separate secondary feedstocks. Zinc-smelter waste produced enrichment of up to 280 times, while semiconductor waste reached up to 240 times.

Defence-related industrial waste delivered enrichment of up to 35 times. The results show the platform is not dependent on one germanium source.

Germanium is used in semiconductors, fibre optics, infrared optics, defence systems, artificial-intelligence infrastructure and data centres. Metallium continues to work with Indium Corporation and semiconductor suppliers on sourcing technology-metal-bearing secondary materials.

Catalytic converters and red mud tested

Initial catalytic-converter testing produced a product exceeding 60% platinum group metals purity. It contained platinum, palladium and rhodium after one unoptimised treatment cycle.

Metallium’s initial work indicates processing time could fall by about 75% against conventional multi-stage recycling. The testing followed engagement with an industry participant, and commercial discussions are progressing.

Separately, red-mud testing removed about 99% of iron and 94% of silicon. It retained approximately 95% of aluminium and concentrated gallium into a separate stream.

That work forms part of Metallium’s collaboration with ElementUSA on recovering gallium, scandium and other critical metals from alumina residue.

Commercial conversion remains the next test

Metallium plans to pursue owned processing operations alongside technology licensing and strategic partnerships. Licensing could allow third parties to deploy its technology within existing processing, refining or recycling facilities.

“Our objective is not simply to demonstrate technical performance, but to convert successful testing into commercial agreements.” Managing Director and CEO Michael Walshe said.

Next steps include improving recovery, selectivity and purity, testing partner feedstocks, evaluating scale-up requirements and advancing commercial discussions. These programs will run alongside the company’s electronic-waste focus.