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PSI-lead Team Selected by the DoD Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Office To Demonstrate Pilot Scale Extraction, Separation, and Refinement of Critical Minerals from Domestic Ponded Coal Ash Resources

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), with our partners Southern Company Services (SCS), Winner Water Services, and Neo Performance Materials, has been awarded a $4.1M, 30 month program to demonstrate extraction, separation, and refinement of rare earth elements (REEs) from over 50 tons of ponded coal ash from Plant Gorgas, near Birmingham, AL. Southern Company subsidiaries maintain several coal ash surface impoundments containing material rich in rare earth elements and other critical minerals in AL and neighboring states. SCS’s collaboration with the PSI team represents a significant demonstration of scaling production of rare earth elements, and other critical minerals, from this valuable domestic resource.

Using a pilot scale facility designed, constructed, and operated by Winner Water Services, based on PSI-patented extraction technology, over 12 kg of mixed rare earth oxide (REO) concentrate will be produced and used for further refinement and separation of selected REOs/REEs. This program is a critical step in the establishment of a fully domestic supply chain for these critical minerals and is expected to lead to larger scale engineering demonstration and commercial plant facilities.

For more information, please contact Mark Allen, Executive Vice-President of R&D for PSI – allen@psicorp.com