ASX-listed Ionic Rare Earths has taken another step forward in developing a commercial magnet recycling plant in the UK, commissioning Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT) to conduct the front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the Belfast facility, based on intellectual property developed by Ionic's wholly-owned subsidiary Ionic Technologies.

The FEED study process began in June, in advance of detailed design and construction phases of the development.

TAT has accretive engineering design experience in multiple rare earth processing technologies, including solvent extraction, electrowinning and mixer/settler design and manufacture, which is complementary to Ionic Technologies’ magnet recycling and rare earth separation technology.

Notably, Ionic Technologies received a £12-million, or A$23-million, capital grant from the UK government towards commercialisation of the Belfast facility, with Ionic targeting a final investment decision on the project by the end of September.

Ionic selected TAT to complete the FEED study together with internal technical staff owing to its extensive track record in rare earth processing technologies, including solvent extraction and associated processes. TAT specialises in providing differentiated, project-specific process technologies based on decades of research, equipment design and project execution.

The FEED study scope will include process description, basis of design, process flow diagrams, equipment lists and specifications, control philosophy and power demand.

Ionic plans to construct a 400 t/y rare earth oxide facility, which targets meeting a minimum of 10% of UK demand from domestic production and 20% from recycling by 2035.

Ionic's Belfast plant was the first producer of recycled, individually separated magnet rare earth oxides in the Western world.

The group's proprietary technology provides a universal method for the recovery of high-purity rare earths from lower-quality and variable-grade magnets.