Scandium International Files FOR Patent Protection ON High Purity Alumina Manufacturing Process
NEWS RELEASE
TSX: SCY
May 27, 2021
NR 21-02
www.scandiummining.com
SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL FILES FOR PATENT PROTECTION ON
HIGH PURITY ALUMINA MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Reno, Nevada, May 27, 2021 – Scandium International Mining Corp . (TSX:SCY) (“Scandium
International” or the “Company”) filed a final patent application with the US Patent Office earlier
this month, pertaining to the manufacture of high purity alumina products (“HPA”). The patent
application outlines methods, chemistries, processes, and flowsheet design for the manufacture
of an HPA product, grading 4N+ purity (99.99%, or better ), from either aluminum-containing
solution feedstocks, alumina powders, or alumina precursor feedstocks. This application
represents a final submission for review and consideration of an award of acceptance and grant.
It is the Company’s intent to pursue a business in high purity alumina, and to employ the designs
and methods contained in the patent application to manufacture HPA, for application in both the
LED lighting industry and the lithium-ion battery industry.
HIGHLIGHTS – “Process for the Preparation of High Purity Alumina”
• Final application filed May 17, 2021, for US Patent Office examination.
• Defines methods for refining aluminum feedstocks to HPA product standards.
• Includes a multi-step process flowsheet, driven initially by acid leaching.
• Employs solvent extraction, ion exchange, and other processes to achieve 4N+ HPA
product grades.
• Utilizes a closed loop reagent recycling system that generates extremely low levels
of process residues and disposable waste, depending on aluminum input source.
George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:
“HPA is becoming more widely recognized as a critical ingredient in a high-energy density lithium-
ion battery . HPA is also predicted to remain in supply deficit for much of the next decade,
provided the EV markets grow as forecast. The projects we have assembled now, using ion
exchange recoveries from copper raffinates (CMR) , and solvent extraction /ion exchange
recoveries for HPA, can generate a suite of critical metals specifically suited for use in a lithium-
ion battery. Market demand timing for these products is excellent. Furthermore, these projects
can be located in USA/Canada, and they can produce products from existing feedstocks without
creating a new mine footprint.”
DISCUSSION:
High purity alumina represents a new product target for SCY, although one that has been under
consideration by the Company for several years. SCY’s recent focus on critical metals recovery
(“CMR”) from copper raffinates, and other acidic processing soluti ons in mining applications,
raised the prospect of also extracting aluminum from the se same solutions. This opportunity
formed the basis of a separate provisional HPA patent in May 2020, with recovery and purification
concepts tailored to high purity HPA product. The May 2021 HPA final patent application now
includes HPA technology production claims related to a wider array of mine-based acidic solution
aluminum sources, along with claims for producing HPA from smelter -grade alumina powders,
and from alumina precursor feedstocks as well.
The specialty metals and chemicals industries fully understand the challenge of consistently
making products that meet the high purity standards required in electrical and semi-conductor
applications. These high-quality standards are then generally matched by stronger pricing and
higher product margins, which is certainly the case for HPA over common smelter-grade alumina.
This opportunity reflects the very high value applications for HPA today, specifically:
• LED lighting components . HPA is the foundation for s ynthetic sapphire manufacture,
forming substrates for LED lights, and also for certain semiconductor wafers.
• Scratch-resistant glass. Synthetic sapphire is used to form scratch-resistant lenses for
wristwatch faces, optical windows, and smartphone components.
• Lithium-ion batteries (LiB’s). HPA is applied as a protective coating on separators in
LiB’s, adding performance, longevity, and safety to high power-density battery
configurations. HPA will very likely be used for similar reasons in future solid-state
electrolyte and electrode designs.
The Company plans to pursue a n HPA development program , including confirmation of both
detailed technical production steps and positive initial financial projections, with the intent to enter
the HPA business. The HPA effort will focus on Europe and the USA/Canada, both as to markets
and production location. HPA initiatives may or may not involve partnering efforts with other
companies, depending on the aluminum feedstock source, and other project or partner specifics.
The HPA project effort will be pursued in parallel with our efforts to secure a copper mine host for
a project to develop our CMR program, as previously reported.
It is the Company’s intent to add a series of related metal recovery business opportunities
alongside the Nyngan Scandium Project, which has otherwise been SCY’s primary project and
product focus. This change reflects a marketplace priority for production of identified critical
metals from new, local sources. Scandium is clearly identified as a critical metal, but it finds nickel
and cobalt companions in many orebodies. That fact, along with the Company’s CMR capability,
has broadened the immediate product opportunity for SCY. This strategy reflects SCY’s desire
to build a suite of projects that can deliver products tailored directly to lithium-ion battery markets,
and specifically to battery components that have application in the electric vehicle industry.
SCY’s critical metals recovery programs, including scandium and now HPA, are supported by a
series of patent-protected processes and pending protections, filing-date preserved. With these
process technology underpinnings in place, and projects scoped, the Company is in position to
undertake advanced HPA development and piloting, and to work with project partners, where we
require or desire them.
ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia,
into the world’s first scandium -only producing mine. The Company filed a NI 43 -101 technical
report in May 2016, titled “Feasibility Study – Nyngan Scandium Project .” The project has
received all key approvals, including a development consent and a mining lease, necessary to
proceed with project construction.
The Company is also currently pursuing CMR opportunities with various copper industry groups,
where SCY proposes to employ ion exchange technology to extract unrecovered critical metals
from existing mine process streams. This program represents a fast -track co ncept to make
battery-grade nickel and cobalt products, scandium master alloy product, and other critical metals,
from North American sources. The Company is similarly pursuing HPA opportunities, both in
conjunction with CMR where that is possible, and also independently as a stand-alone project.
Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person
for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press
release on behalf of the Company.
For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact:
Edward Dickinson (CFO)
Tel: (775) 233-7328
George Putnam (CEO)
Tel: (925) 208-1775
Email: [email protected]
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business.
Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not
limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward -looking
statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These ri sks, uncertainties and other
factors include, without limitation : risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium
including scandium alloys and other products produced using the Company’s proprietary
technologies such as HPA , the possibility that r esults of test work will not fulfill expectations , or
not realize the perceived market utilization and potential. Forward-looking statements are based
on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are
made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations,
or other circumstances, should change.