Separation

DEco grade
Midstream18 facilities tracked

Solvent extraction (SX) and ion-exchange processes that isolate individual rare earth elements from mixed feedstocks into high-purity oxides. The most technically demanding and geopolitically sensitive step in the value chain.

Covers traditional solvent extraction (SX), Advanced Column extraction (RapidSX™ by Ucore Rare Metals), membrane solvent extraction (MSX), and ion-exchange chromatography - the four principal technologies used to separate mixed rare earth chlorides into individual oxides for use in magnets, catalysts, and batteries.

Where does the mass go?

Material flow balance — per 100 t mixed REE chloride feed

FeedstockChemical InputProcessValuable OutputBy-productWaste / Emissions
⚖

Critical Ratio

Only ~20% of feed mass becomes NdPr oxide - but the organic phase (kerosene + P507) must be continuously recycled or the plant becomes uneconomic

Ratings

Capital Outlay$$$$ Critical
Technical DifficultyVery High
Geopolitical SensitivityExtreme
Energy Intensity⚡⚡⚡ High
Environmental Footprint🍂 D - High impact
Value Add3x-5x
Technical MoatExtreme

Material Flow

INMREC / Mixed Chlorides
OUTHigh-Purity REE Oxides (>99.9%)

Key Reagents / Inputs

  • D2EHPA
  • PC88A
  • Organic extractants
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Ammonia
  • Magnesia
  • Ammonium Hydroxide

Waste Outputs

  • Spent organic solvent
  • Ammonium chloride wastewater
  • Acid/alkali strip solutions
  • Low-level radioactive residues
🏰

Technical Moat

Extreme

China's 30-year lead in Solvent Extraction (SX) cascade stability and proprietary organic extractant recipes for elemental isolation is the ultimate moat. The 'Black Box' of the rare earth industry.

Tracked Facilities

18 total
Filter all facilities by Separation →

The Duel: Traditional vs Next-Gen

Same NdPr oxide output, dramatically different resource footprint. Values are per 100 t of mixed REE chloride feed.

Traditional SX

~80% of global capacity

D
Organic Solvent
80 t / 100 t feedbaseline
Raffinate Discharge
150 t / 100 t feedbaseline
Physical Footprint
10,000 m²baseline
Cycle Time
12 days (approx.)baseline

Advanced Column (RapidSX™)

Commercial demo · 2026

B+
Organic Solvent
20 t / 100 t feed−75%
Raffinate Discharge
40 t / 100 t feed−73%
Physical Footprint
2,500 m²−75%
Cycle Time
1 days (approx.)−92%

Membrane SX

Pilot · early commercial

A-
Organic Solvent
10 t / 100 t feed−87%
Raffinate Discharge
20 t / 100 t feed−87%
Physical Footprint
3,000 m²−70%
Cycle Time
3 days (approx.)−75%

Explore Each Technology

Switch between technologies to see how the mass-flow Sankey changes.

Where does the mass go?

Material flow balance — per 100 t mixed REE chloride feed

FeedstockChemical InputProcessValuable OutputBy-productWaste / Emissions
⚖

Critical Ratio

Only ~20% of feed mass becomes NdPr oxide - but the organic phase (kerosene + P507) must be continuously recycled or the plant becomes uneconomic

Technology Metrics at a Glance

MetricTraditional SXAdvanced Column (RapidSX™)Membrane SX
Separation Time10-14 days~24 hours2-5 days
Physical Footprint~10,000 m²~2,500 m²~3,000 m²
Organic Solvent Vol.Very High (80 t / 100 t)Low (20 t / 100 t)Minimal (10 t / 100 t)
Raffinate DischargeVery High (~150 t)Moderate (~40 t)Low (~20 t, treated)
ESG RatingDB+A-
Capital IntensityMediumHighVery High
Separation Stages200-500 stages20-50 stagesContinuous pore contact
Market MaturityMature (70+ yrs)Commercial demo (2026)Pilot / Early commercial
Western IP DependencyHigh (Chinese chemistry)Low (Ucore / USA IP)Low (European IP)

Facilities by Processing Technology

Tracked facilities grouped by their confirmed processing method.