By Faridat Salifu
MTM Critical Metals Ltd recently announced a major breakthrough in critical mineral recovery, achieving high-grade antimony extraction from U.S.-sourced electronic waste using its proprietary Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology.
The company reported a 98% metal conversion rate and recovered antimony at a concentration of 3.13%, significantly higher than typical global mine grades which range between 0.1% and 1.0%.
This development signals the commercial viability of MTM’s urban mining approach and aligns with the United States’ strategy to secure domestic sources of critical minerals.
Antimony is designated a critical mineral by both the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Energy due to its strategic applications in ammunition, semiconductors, and battery production.
The United States currently lacks domestic antimony mining and relies predominantly on imports, especially from China.
MTM’s success in recovering the metal from legacy e-waste streams supports the case for onshore recovery solutions and underpins its ongoing engagement with U.S. government stakeholders.
Michael Walshe, Managing Director and CEO of MTM Critical Metals, said the results highlight the disruptive potential of the company’s patented recovery process.
“Achieving 98% recovery from e-waste at over 3% grade shows the transformative power of our technology,” Walshe stated.
“We’re well positioned to contribute to U.S. supply chain resilience and advance toward commercial deployment.”
MTM recently acquired a pre-permitted demonstration site in Texas where it plans to further develop and scale its Flash Joule Heating technology.
The company is in active discussions with relevant U.S. agencies regarding potential funding and strategic partnerships to accelerate deployment.
MTM Critical Metals, with headquarters in Perth, Western Australia and operations in Houston, Texas, is focused on advanced technologies for recovering critical and valuable metals.
Its U.S. subsidiary, Flash Metals USA, holds exclusive licensing rights to the Flash Joule Heating process developed by researchers at Rice University.
In addition to its metal recovery innovations, MTM maintains exploration projects in Western Australia and Quebec that are prospective for niobium, rare earth elements, and gold.
