Facilities

a kpm experiment inside one of the faciliities

759 Progress Avenue; 12,000 ft²

Main lab facility with 5 laboratories, including analytical chemistry
Head Office and Administration
Techno-Economics and Process Engineering
Machine shop for maintenance and fabrication

721 Progress Avenue; 9,500 ft²

Physical characterization laboratory (microscopy, SEM-EDS, PSD, profilometry, hardness and tensile testing)
Sample preparation, with jaw crusher, ball mill, rod mil, disk mill, hammer mill, sieves, mixers/blenders, rifflers, etc.
Experimental laboratory for bench scale or mini-pilot
One pilot testing bay, currently dedicated to Cyclic Materials

672 Justus Drive; 10,000 ft²

One pilot bay (5,000 ft²) currently dedicated to Cyclic Materials hub operation (hydrometallurgy), with offices and dedicated analytical lab
One pilot bay (5,000 ft²) currently dedicated to Ucore’s RapidSX demonstration pilot plant (solvent extraction), with offices and dedicated analytical lab

599 Norris Court; 8,000 ft²

Scale-up and piloting of pyrometallurgical and electrometallurgical processes, including 30 kW and 120 kW electric arc furnaces (EAF) and 10,000 Amps molten salts electrochemical cell

Extensive training to various procedures, preparation of specific experimental design and methods, and development of safety reviews, is fundamental for KPM experimental research work. This, combined with a solid understanding of the chemistry at play, allow KPM to be able to handle a wide range of toxic and explosive gases, hazardous chemicals,and complex experiments, using a wide range of reactors at temperatures up to 1700°C, and more. We can run large scale integrated pilot plant trials on a 24/7 basis, with rotating shift operation.

Research & Development Labs and Pilots

Some of the equipment used in our laboratories and pilot space include:

MoSi₂ tube furnaces (1700°C)
SiC tube furnaces (1400°C)
Resistance element furnaces (1200°C)
Induction furnaces (10 kW and 70 kW)
Electric arc furnaces (30 kW and 120 kW)
Mini kiln (batch or continuous) from 2.5” to 10” diameter
Rotary furnaces (mini-SRF)
Fluid bed reactors (batch or continuous)
Controlled atmosphere molten salt electrolysis
Potentiostat for electrochemical studies
Continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR) with heating and cooling capability
Denver flotation cell
Bench scale autoclaves
In-line HCl and Cl₂
Gas scrubber facility

We routinely design, build, commission, and operate custom design equipment to meet the needs of specific projects.

Analytical Lab

Some of the analytical equipment used in our laboratories include:

ICP-OES
ICP-MS
XRF and T-XRF
LPSA
Custom large scale (<10 g) thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)
Custom large scale (<10 g) differential thermal analysis (TDA)
Magnetic separators
Infrared spectroscopy/gas chromatography
Portable 300 AMU mass spectrometer
Surface profilometers
Optical microscopy/image analysis
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS)
Karl-Fisher water analysis
Sample preparation equipment

We routinely develop and optimize analytical methods, specifically for the needs and requirements of a specific project. We have the capability to develop custom probes and adapt instruments and methods to new applications.