MTM Critical Metals recovers 98% antimony from e-waste using flash joule heating technology
Advanced metal recovery technologies specialist MTM Critical Metals (ASX: MTM) is testing the theory that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure with its plans to recover high-value antimony from electronic waste.
MTM has taken a major step to create a new source of antimony – the price of which has skyrocketed over the past year due to supply concerns – through its unique use of flash joule heating (FJH) technology.
The company announced today that it had achieved 98% recovery of antimony after extracting 3.13% of the critical metal from printed circuit board feedstock.
Exceeds mined ore
According to the company, that grade far exceeds normal mined ore, where even the largest primary deposits average just 0.5–0.7%.
The tested feedstock is the same urban waste material from which MTM previously obtained ultra-high-grade gold, silver and copper recoveries.
“This result demonstrates the strong technical and commercial potential of our FJH process for recovering strategic metals from e-waste,” chief executive officer Michael Walshe said.
“Achieving 98% recovery of antimony at over 3% grade from domestic urban feedstock is particularly significant given the US currently has no meaningful domestic Sb production.”
US discussions underway
Mr Walshe said the company was in discussions with US government agencies regarding potential funding to support domestic critical metal recovery.
“While early-stage and non-binding, these discussions reflect strong interest in scalable US-based refining technologies,” he said.
“The strategic role of antimony in defence, particularly in armour-piercing alloys and flame-retardant systems, was a consistent theme during recent meetings in Washington.”
The US Departments of Defense and Energy have named antimony a critical metal, with both seeking onshore supply solutions for this type of high-priority metal.
Commercial pathway
“Combined with our recently secured pre-permitted demonstration site in Texas, we are well positioned to scale operations and advance commercial deployment,” Mr Walshe said.
MTM has already secured more than 1,100 tonnes of e-waste feedstock annually under long-term agreements with US suppliers.
Mr Walshe said the elevated antimony content reflected the nature of legacy and industrial-grade electronics.
Antimony is often alloyed with tin or lead in the solders used extensively in older servers, military hardware and telecom equipment, or used as a flame retardant in electronic housings.