November 24, 2025 — Toronto, ON
Hybrid Supercritical Refining (HSR) demonstrates >90% rare-earth recoveries in preliminary assessment
Engina Corporation is pleased to announce the successful completion of a Technology Assessment with Avalon Advanced Materials (TSX: AVL and OTCQB: AVLNF) on the application of Engina’s Hybrid Supercritical Refining (HSR) technology to Avalon’s Nechalacho Rare Earths Project in the Northwest Territories.
The assessment confirms that HSR, Engina’s proprietary, low-impact hydrometallurgical platform, achieved over 90% recovery across the full suite of rare earth elements in preliminary bench-scale testing. The results highlight HSR’s potential to provide a cleaner, more efficient, and more scalable extraction pathway for complex rare-earth ores and concentrates.
A New Benchmark in Rare Earth Processing
HSR integrates a caustic pretreatment with a supercritical fluid–based extraction step, creating a largely closed-loop system that significantly reduces chemical intensity and environmental footprint compared with conventional routes.
Key technical advantages demonstrated to date include:
- High REE extraction performance across light and heavy rare earth elements
- Water-lean, low-waste operation, avoiding sulphate tailings and acid-plant infrastructure
- Recyclable CO₂-based solvent system aligned with modern process-intensification principles
- Lower specific energy intensity than legacy hydrometallurgical circuits
- Favourable integration potential within existing or future processing facilities
Expanding Pathways for Critical-Mineral Recovery
Engina’s modelling also indicates that the HSR pretreatment step converts zirconium- and niobium-bearing phases into reactive forms. While not part of the current HSR scope, additional downstream modules could be incorporated to selectively recover these critical minerals.
This modularity highlights HSR’s value as a platform technology adaptable to a broad range of strategic minerals beyond rare earth elements.
A Collaborative Milestone
Engina acknowledges Avalon’s strong commitment to innovation and sustainability. This project demonstrates how engineered process solutions, when paired with a client’s operational vision, can open new pathways for resource development in Canada and internationally.
Next Steps
The Technology Assessment Report, delivered to Avalon in November 2025, outlines a multi-phase development roadmap. These next steps will establish the design basis for Avalon’s future rare earth recovery facility and reinforce Engina’s position as a technology partner of choice for sustainable critical mineral extraction.
About Engina
Engina Corporation is a Canadian engineering and technology company specializing in advanced metallurgical, chemical, and energy-system solutions. Through process intensification, supercritical technologies, and integrated systems engineering, Engina delivers practical, high-performance solutions to complex industrial challenges.
The Hybrid Supercritical Refining (HSR) platform is proprietary, patent-protected, and patent-pending.
