RE: The rules of the game just changed22 Oct 2025 18:47
>>“Ionic separation” refers to the mining and leaching process
No, you are referring to ionic clays that use heap leech or In Situ Recovery.
"the Ligand Assisted Displacement (LAD) chromatography method used by ReElement Technologies is fundamentally a type of ionic separation technique, specifically a highly advanced form of ion-exchange chromatography.
Here is why:
Ion Exchange Basis: Traditional ion-exchange chromatography separates ions based on their charge and affinity for the stationary phase (the resin). The search results mention that LAD is a form of chromatography that builds on this concept.
Ligand Involvement: In LAD, the separation is driven by the chemical interaction (complexation) between the ligand (which is often introduced in the eluent or immobilized on the resin) and the metal ions (REEs). This complexation process involves the metal ions interacting as charged species in a solution.
Focus on Ions/Complexes: The separation relies on the difference in how strongly the various Rare Earth Ions (\text{REE}^{3+}) complex with the ligand, which in turn dictates their movement through the column, similar to how different ions are separated in standard ion-exchange or ion-chromatography methods.
While it is distinct from the traditional commercial method (Solvent Extraction), which also relies on ligand chemistry, LAD is explicitly described as a chromatography method that refines the principles of ion-exchange"
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