Temas Resources has confirmed its patented Regenerative Chloride Leach (RCL) technology can produce commercial-grade titanium dioxide with significant cost reductions, positioning the company for global licensing opportunities.
- Pilot-scale tests yield 99.8% pure TiO2 with 80-85% titanium recovery
- RCL process cuts TiO2 production costs by over 65% versus conventional methods
- Technology supports multi-metal recovery including iron, vanadium, gallium, and scandium
- RCL platform is scalable, environmentally friendly, and patent-protected with 11 granted patents
- Third-party evaluations underway for licensing and joint ventures across multiple countries
Innovative Processing Breakthrough
Temas Resources Corp has taken a significant step forward in commercialising its patented Regenerative Chloride Leach (RCL) metallurgical platform. The company recently completed pilot-scale validation using material from its La Blache titanium-vanadium project in Quebec, producing an ultra-pure titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder grading 99.8%. This milestone confirms the RCL technology’s capability to deliver commercial-grade products with markedly improved economics.
The RCL platform, which Temas fully owns following its acquisition of ORF Technologies Inc., is distinguished by its ability to process complex mineral deposits under atmospheric pressure and lower temperatures than traditional chloride or sulphide methods. This results in a closed-loop reagent recycling system that significantly reduces operating costs and environmental impact.
Cost Efficiency and Environmental Benefits
Independent pilot testing demonstrated that the RCL process can reduce TiO2 production costs by more than 65% compared to conventional processing routes. These savings stem from multiple factors including co-product recovery, simplified flowsheets, and reduced energy consumption. The process also achieves high recovery rates; between 80-85% for titanium and approximately 95% for iron; with further improvements anticipated as scale-up progresses.
Beyond cost savings, the technology’s closed-loop design and high reagent recycling rates contribute to a substantially lower environmental footprint. This aligns with growing industry and regulatory demands for sustainable mineral processing solutions, positioning Temas as a forward-thinking player in critical minerals extraction.
Expanding Metal Recovery and Market Reach
Temas is not limiting the RCL platform to titanium and iron. The company is actively advancing metallurgical programs to optimise recovery of vanadium, gallium, and scandium; critical and strategic metals gaining importance in North America’s supply chain. These efforts could unlock additional value from the La Blache deposit and broaden the technology’s applicability.
Moreover, the RCL platform is under evaluation by multiple third-party mining companies across Indonesia, Australia, and Canada for processing diverse mineral deposits including nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, zinc, and lead. These discussions, conducted under confidentiality, highlight the technology’s potential as a licensable solution or joint venture foundation, supporting Temas’ strategy to build a standalone technology-led business alongside its resource projects.
Strategic Outlook and Next Steps
Temas’ leadership emphasises the dual value proposition of the RCL platform – enhancing the economics of its own mineral assets while creating scalable, repeatable value through licensing and partnerships worldwide. The company expects to release further metallurgical results focusing on gallium and scandium recovery in the coming quarters, which will be critical to validating the broader commercial potential of the technology.
While pilot-scale results are promising, commercial-scale performance and economic viability remain to be fully demonstrated. The company acknowledges the need for ongoing optimisation and variability testing to confirm consistent outcomes across the full deposit and other mineral types.
Bottom Line?
Temas’ RCL technology is poised to reshape critical mineral processing economics, but the market awaits commercial-scale proof and licensing deals to unlock its full value.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Temas manage scale-up risks to ensure consistent commercial performance of RCL?
- What are the timelines and terms for potential licensing or joint venture agreements with third parties?
- Can the RCL platform deliver similarly strong cost and recovery benefits for metals beyond titanium and iron?