Rare-earth separation and refining: Maturity, Builders & Inputs

Who builds it7

Fielded4
Limited fielding0
- —
Prototype2
- Maglut Heavy IndustriesDeveloper
- Ucore Rare MetalsDeveloper
Development1
- ReElement TechnologiesDeveloper
Research0
- —
Concept0
- —

Sort

Energy FuelsSupplier · USFielded
Lynas Rare EarthsSupplier · AUFielded
MP MaterialsSupplier · USFielded
Neo Performance MaterialsSupplier · CAFielded
Maglut Heavy IndustriesDeveloper · USARC-1 (Advanced Rare Earth Chromatography, first generation): resin-bead chromatography in place of solvent extraction. Pilot-scale validation claimed by the company; demonstration plant targeted for August 2027.Prototype
Ucore Rare MetalsDeveloper · CARapidSX solvent extraction; demonstration plant in Kingston, Ontario.Prototype
ReElement TechnologiesDeveloper · USDevelopment

Organizations working on this technology. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
				Notes	Conf.
Energy FuelsUS	Supplier	Supplier	Fielded	—	Confirmed
Lynas Rare EarthsAU	Supplier	Supplier	Fielded	—	Confirmed
MP MaterialsUS	Supplier	Supplier	Fielded	—	Confirmed
Neo Performance MaterialsCA	Supplier	Supplier	Fielded	—	Confirmed
Maglut Heavy IndustriesUS	Startup	Developer	Prototype	ARC-1 (Advanced Rare Earth Chromatography, first generation): resin-bead chromatography in place of solvent extraction. Pilot-scale validation claimed by the company; demonstration plant targeted for August 2027.	Reported
Ucore Rare MetalsCA	Supplier	Developer	Prototype	RapidSX solvent extraction; demonstration plant in Kingston, Ontario.	Reported
ReElement TechnologiesUS	Startup	Developer	Development	—	Reported

Placed by each organization's own maturity for this technology; TRL is self-reported or estimated, see confidence.

Inputs it depends on2

Sort

Inputs this technology depends on. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
			Why it constrains
Rare-earth separation capacity	Manufacturing capacity	Critical	The top three countries held 97% of refined magnet rare-earth output in 2024; IEA projects 92% in 2030 even with announced projects. China banned export of rare-earth extraction and separation technology in December 2023 and widened technology controls in October 2025 (suspended to November 2026). New entrants (Ucore, ReElement, Maglut) are trying chromatography and other alternatives to solvent extraction.
Mixed rare-earth concentrate	Material	High	Feedstock outside China comes mainly from Mountain Pass, Mt Weld, Myanmar and mineral sands (monazite). New separators such as Maglut and Ucore must secure third-party concentrate, often from early-stage projects.

Criticality is how much a shortage would constrain production; open an input for producers, concentration and trade controls.

News1

Open in the news feed →

Aug 26, 2026CompanyMaglut Heavy IndustriesMaglut Heavy Industries Emerges from Stealth to Rebuild America's Rare Earth Processing CapacityBusiness Wire

Aug 26, 2026CompanyBusiness WireMaglut Heavy Industries Emerges from Stealth to Rebuild America's Rare Earth Processing Capacity

Sources10

Profile1

1
ResearchGlobal Critical Minerals Outlook 2025
International Energy Agency · May 21, 2025 · Supports Technology
“In the rest of the world, refineries owned by Lynas in Malaysia, MP Materials in the United States, Viet Nam Rare Earth JSC (VTRE) in Viet Nam”

Technologies9

2
CompanyUcore Secures Additional US$4.6 Million from U.S. Department of War
Ucore Rare Metals (Newsfile) · Sep 14, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“total grant funding under the Company's OTA with U.S. Army Contracting Command-Orlando increases to US$27.0 million”
3
NewsMaglut Heavy Industries Emerges from Stealth in Long Beach
Los Angeles Times · Aug 27, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“The company has validated its ARC-1 process at pilot scale, separating real-world feedstock into individual rare earth oxides at 99.9% purity and higher.”
4
NewsExclusive: Maglut Heavy Industries Emerges from Stealth
Tectonic Defense · Aug 26, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“The company's flagship separating process is called ARC-1, or Advanced Rare Earth Chromatography First Generation”
5
CompanyCommercial-Scale 'Heavy' Rare Earth Plant Now Under Construction in Utah
Energy Fuels · Jul 29, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“The Mill has the current commercial capacity to produce up to 1,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of separated NdPr oxide.”
6
CompanyNeo Successfully Commissions Heavy Rare Earth Separation Small-Scale Production Line in Europe
Neo Performance Materials · Apr 10, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“The operation has produced its first separated terbium and dysprosium process solutions, pre-cursor products for metal making”
7
Regulatory filingMP Materials Corp. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025
MP Materials Corp. (SEC) · Feb 26, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“produces NdPr oxide and other separated rare earth products, including cerium and lanthanum products, as well as SEG+, a mixed heavy rare earth product”
8
Government recordOffice of Strategic Capital Agrees to Joint $700M Conditional Loan Commitment with Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies
U.S. Department of War · Nov 21, 2025 · Supports Organization technology
“The OSC commitment includes two separate loans, one to Vulcan for $620 million and one to ReElement for $80 million.”
9
CompanyUS Markets
Lynas Rare Earths · Supports Organization technology
“Lynas Rare Earths is the world's only commercial producer of separated Light and Heavy rare earth oxides outside of China.”
10
OtherBlack Flag 100.2
Black Flag · Supports Organization technology
“Maglut's approach centers on selective separation, drawing on the logic of ion-exchange and engineered binding systems to isolate elements that behave nearly identically in nature.”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.