Selective ion exchange resins for recovery precious, rare-earth metals

1. AXION – Rare-earth
and Noble Metals
Industrial highly selective
sorption solutions
February, 2016

2. OVERVIEW
2
AXION-RNM
The company was founded in 2010, Perm (Russia)
Venture partner – Bioprocess Venture Capital
Strategic partner – Perm Chemical Company that provides laboratory
and production premises
PRODUCTS
Complex technological high sorption solutions based on ion-exchange
(chelating) resins with main focus on metals production and
purification
Portfolio of chelating ion-exchange resins (AXIONIT) for sorption of
cesium, scandium, indium and other rare-earth and precious metals
“Turn-key“ recycling solutions (partnership scheme)

3. AXION-RNM: FULL CYCLE TECHNOLOGICAL INGINEERING
3
Technological chain analysis, identification of bottle-necks
and economic optimization potential
Development, adaptation* and testing
of the chelating resins
Production cycle engineering, trial
testing, confirmation of the economic
parameters of the processes
Resins supplies. Establishment and joint
management of the new business**
Integration of the solution
into the production chain
* - if required, ** - in case of new business partnership

4. 4
AXIONIT: HIGHLY SELECTIVE ION-EXCHANGE RESINS
TARGET MARKET
Resins global market - $1 bln
AXION-RNM develops and
manufactures chelating resins
Target market segment – 15% in value
and 5% in volume
Key segments: processing of the industrial waste, refining, mining and metals
processing
ADVANTAGES
Selective sorption of one, two or group of metals
Effective sorption from highly-acid solutions with complex salt background
High sorption capacity (up to 5-8 mg-eq/g) – 3-4 times higher that
comparable market products
Reusable feature. Decreased sorption/desorption cycles. Improved ecology.
* IWT – industrial water treatment, ССP – chemical processing, СC – consumer cartridges
*

5. VOLUME: 90-95%
REVENUE: 5-10%
VOLUME: 5-10%
REVENUE: 90-95%
REE MARKET MAIN PROBLEM
Y La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Sc
 Conventional production technologies
require processing of 100% ore to
produce most precious 5-10% REEs;
 Key problem is low selectivity
technological restrictions of existing
methods (enrichment/
sorption/extraction);
 1/3 of REEs produced are sold below
cost.

6. PARTNERSHIP SCHEMES
6
Additional business on the
partners infrastructure or third-
party resource base
On par investments up to $3-5 M
USD from Bioprocess Ventures
Production of rear-earth and noble
metals
Delivery of “turn-key” solution and
supplies of the resins from AXION-
RNM
50 % PARTNER
50 % AXIONT-RNM

7. AXIONIT MND 50, 40Т
7
MAIN APPLICATION
•Sorption of medium-heavy group of REEs
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• Solutions of orthophosphoric and nitric acids (without preliminary
neutralization)
SELECTIVITY
•medium-heavy group of REEs (Eu - Lu) (Kd > 103) in nitric acid (5-
6M HNO3) and mixture of orthophosphoric and nitric acids
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• 0,6-0,8 mg-eq/g
DESORPTION
•ammonium carbonate, water
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
•No (LANXESS), no (PUROLITE), DGA Resin
(Eichrom);
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• high selectivity to heavy REEs (Kd > 104)

8. AXIONIT EСО-10
8
MAIN APPLICATION
• Sorption of total REE
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• nitric acid technological solutions with low REE concentration
and high ammonium nitrate concentrations
SELECTIVITY
• REE and actinides in high acidity conditions (Kd > 103)
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• 2,0-3,0 mg-eq/g
DESORPTION
• chelating agent solution
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
• Lewatit TP 260 (LANXESS), Purolite S950 (PUROLITE)
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• high capacity for REE, efficiency in nitrate solutions

9. AXIONIT Pd Sorb
9
MAIN APPLICATION
•Sorption of group of palladium
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• high acidic technological solutions with high oxidative activity
SELECTIVITY
•high (Kd = 103­ - 104) for complexes of metals of Pd
in the presence of copper, silver and other metals
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• 6,0 mg-eq/g
DESORPTION
• 3 М aqueous ammonia
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
• no (LANXESS), no(PUROLITE), Reillex 425 (Vertellus Specialities)
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• higher capacity and selectivity to platinum and palladium

10. AXIONIT NP
10
MAIN APPLICATION
• sorption of indium, scandium
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• sulfuric solutions of Waeltz oxides leaching process
SELECTIVITY
• indium and scandium in highly acidic solutions (Kd > 103)
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• 4,0-6,0 mg-eq/g
DESORPTION
•ammonium carbonate solution, hydrochloric acid
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
• no (LANXESS), Purolite S955 (PUROLITE)
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• twofold higher capacity and selectivity

11. AXIONIT RCs
11
MAIN APPLICATION
• sorption of cesium and cesium -137
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• alkaline liquid waste residues of evaporators Nuclear Power Stations
SELECTIVITY
•distribution coefficient for cesium-137 is 103 in 1 M
solution of sodium nitrate, рН=12
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• the amount of purified liquid waste residues is 1000 BV
DESORPTION
•0,1 mg-eq/g
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
• Duolite CS-100 (Dow Chemical),
• Amberlite XAD 761 (Amberlite)
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• high selectivity to cesium and durability in alkaline solutions
in the presence of chelating agents

12. AXIONIT VPA
12
MAIN APPLICATION
• sorption thorium (plutonium) from nitric acid solution
APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (SOLUTION)
• highly acidic nitric acid solutions
SELECTIVITY
• distribution coefficient for Th, Pu (Kd > 103) in 6-7 M HNO3
EXCHAGE CAPACITY
• 4,3-4,8 mg-eq/g;
DESORPTION
• water
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
• Reillex HPQ (Vertellus Specialities),
No (LANXESS), no (PUROLITE);
ADVANTAGES TO THE EXISTING PRODUCTS
• high selectivity to Th, Pu (Kd > 103)

13. CONTACTS
13
AXION – Rare-earth and Noble Metals
TEL: +7(342) 211-00-90
FAX: +7 (342) 253-07-69
E-mail: axion.rnm@gmail.com
WWW: www.axion-rnm.com
Address: 614034, Russia, Perm, Voronezhskaya str., 56

14. The dependence of the exchange capacity resins
the concentration of HNO3
*
14
The dependence of the static exchange capacity (SEC) of AXIONIT MND 40T
by HNO3 concentration for ions : 1 – Eu3+; 2 – Th4+; 3 – UO2
2+; 4 – Fe3+
0,0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CHNO3, моль/дм3
СЕ, ммоль/г
1
2
3
4
•According to the results of tests in the laboratory chromatography radioactive elements
IPCE RAS under the leadership of Prof. Milytin V. V.
C(HNO3), M
SEC, mmol/g

15. The output curves of sorption of europium on
AXIONIT MND 50 and MND 40 T *
15
The output curves of sorption of europium nitrate solution on AXIONIT MND 50
(curves 1-3) and AXIONIT MND 40T (curves 4-6) in cyclic mode.
The curves 1,4 - 1st cycle; 2,5 - 2nd cycle; 3,6 - 3rd cycle
0,0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300
V, k.o.
С/Со
1
2
3
4
56
•According to the results of tests in the laboratory chromatography radioactive elements
IPCE RAS under the leadership of Prof. Milytin V. V.

16. The output curves of desorption of europium
from AXIONIT MND 50 and MND 40 T *
16
The output curves of sorption of europium with AXIONIT MND 50 (curves 1 and 2)
and AXIONIT MND 40T (curve 3).
Composition of the eluent: 0,01 M HNO3 (curves 1 and 3); 10 g/l DTPA, pH 7.0 (curve 2)
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
V, к.о.
С, г/дм3
1
2
3
V, BV
c, g/l
•According to the results of tests in the laboratory chromatography radioactive elements
IPCE RAS under the leadership of Prof. Milytin V. V.

17. The output curves of sorption 152Eu
17
1
10
100
1000
10000
0 500 1000 1500
V, к.о.
Коч
1
2
The output curves of sorption 152Eu from model solution on sorbents:
1 - BAU-1M-50%; 2 - AXIONIT MND 40T
The composition of the test solution (g / l): HNO3 – 346; Fe3+ – 0,2; Ni2+ – 0,1; Cr3+ – 0,1; Al3+ – 2,0;
Eu3+ – 0,0005; Th4+ – 0,0015, 152Eu ~105 Bq/l
K purification
V, BV
•According to the results of tests in the laboratory chromatography radioactive elements
IPCE RAS under the leadership of Prof. Milytin V. V.

18. Using AXIONIT Pd Sorb for purification of the electrolyte
silver from Pd in refining of silver
18
Palladium desorption curve of
3 M aqueous solution of NH3 (0,5 BV/h)
Output palladium sorption curve under
dynamic conditions (specific load = BV/h)*
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 20 40 60 80
с(Pd),mg/l
V, BV
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
0 2 4 6
с(Pd),mg/l
V, BV
* Initial electrolyte composition (silver nitrate): Ag+ - 287 g/l; Pd2+ - 0,36 g/l

19. Comparative data on indium recovery from
leach solutions treatment Waeltz oxides
19
Manufacturer Purolite Cybber Dow AXION
Name of the
investigated
sorbent
Purolite
S957
Purolite
S930
SF-5
Cybber
CRX
KFP-12
Amberlite
IRC748
AXIONIT
NP
Capacity (In), g/kg 12 9 8 8 25 8 38
Output curve of indium sorption
in dynamic conditions (specific load 3 BV/h)*
Indium desorption curve of HCl solution
(specific load 1 BV/h)
0
0,05
0,1
0,15
0,2
0,25
0,3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
К.О.
с(In),г/л
AXION НФ19
V, BV V, BV
* Concentrations of elements in the initial solution, g/l: In - 0,2552; Zn – 33; Fe - 15,822;
Cd - 0,618; Cu - 3,8; Sb - 0,086; As - 0,841; Al - 1,047; Si - 0,8.
C(In),g/l
C(In),g/l

20. The dependence of the static exchange capacity (SEC)
to Th4+ under concentration of HNO3 AXIONIT VPA*
20
* According to the results of tests in the IPCE
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0,00 1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 5,00 6,00 7,00
C HNO3, M
Em, мг/г
C(HNO3), M
SEC(Th4+),mg/g

21. Characteristics of AXIONIT VPA
21
Name of parameter
Standard OST
95.291.79 AXIONIT VPA
Grading:
mass fraction,%, not less
grain size in an air-dry state, mm
85
0,315-1,25
98
0,315-1,2
Moisture content, % 30-70 58
Specific volume of swollen ion exchanger in
distilled water, cm3/g, not more
3,5 3,1
Total exchange capacity to chloride anion, mg-
Eq/g, not less
4,3 5,6
Strongly basic groups capacity (ЕСОГ), mg-Eq/g, not
less
3,7 4,8
Specific surface m2/g, not less 10 17
Mechanical strength,%, not less 85 90
Decrease in mass,%, not more 12 comp.
Sorption characteristics AXIONIT VPA to recovery of Th complies to standard OST
95.291.79 as a replacement of USSR resin VP-1Ap

22. The dependence of the distribution coefficient (Kd) 137Cs
for AXIONIT RCs from pH of the liquid phase*
1,0E+00
1,0E+01
1,0E+02
1,0E+03
1,0E+04
1,0E+05
0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0 7,0 8,0 9,0 10,0 11,0 12,0 13,0 14,0
рН
Kd, см3
/г
22
* According to the results of tests in the IPCE

23. Compare AXIONIT RCs selectivity to cesium *
Name of sorbent Manufacturer Chemical basis
The values of Kd
137Cs,
cm3/g of test solution:
№1 №2
FRS (prototype)
Institute of Chemistry
FEB RAS
Resorcinol-
formaldehyde 2,4×103 4,4×103
FRS (template)
Institute of Chemistry
FEB RAS
Resorcinol-
formaldehyde 882 3,8×103
FRS (Rb)
Institute of Chemistry
FEB RAS
Resorcinol-
formaldehyde 6,0×103 938
AXIONIT RCs JSC «AXION"
Resorcinol-
formaldehyde 1,5×104 1,2×103
Duolite CS-100 DowChemical (USA) Phenol-formaldehyde - 53
Amberlite XAD 761 Amberlite (USA)
Macro-mesh
polystyrene 232 59
FFS- 1.4/0.7
Nizhny Tagil SPA
"Plastic" Phenol-formaldehyde
104 15
Thermoxide-35 JSC NPF "Termoksid"
Ferrocyanide on the
carrier ZrO2 - 4,6×104
1) Solution №1, g/l (mol/l): NaNO3 – 331 (3,9); NaOН – 4,0 (0,1);
2) Solution №2, g/l (mol/l): NaNO3 – 300 (3,5); KNO3 – 42 (0,4); NaOН – 4,0 (0,1).
23* According to the results of tests in the IPCE

24. Intellectual property
24
4 patents of Russian Federation:
 RU2515455 «METHOD OF PRODUCING ION-EXCHANGE
MATERIAL ADAPTIVELY SELECTIVE TO RARE-EARTH METALS».
Priority date 29.07.2012.
 RU2560361 «METHOD FOR PRODUCING COMPLEX-
FORMING SORBENT FOR SELECTIVE RECOVERY OF INDIUM».
Priority date 29.07.2012.
 RU2521379 «METHOD OF OBTAINING SORBENT FOR
SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF CESIUM». Priority date 02.13.2013.
 RU2531916 «METHOD OF PRODUCING SORBENT FOR
SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF SCANDIUM IONS». Priority date
04.26.2013.
WO2014021734 «METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPLEX-
FORMING SORBENT FOR SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF INDIUM»
WO2014175771 «METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SORBENT FOR
SELECTIVE RECOVERY OF SCANDIUM IONS»