The last couple of days I have been on a Staff Del to Houston to see things around the Member's District. Yesterday, we went through the Port of Houston terminals and everything going on there before hitting up Johnson Space Center, and then Intuitive Machines. This morning we stopped by Rice University, and the technology that they are not just developing but deploying was remarkable to see in action.

The star of the show, at least in my eyes, was the technology that has been spun off into a company called Flash Metals USA. This company uses the Two-Step Flash Joule Heating-Chlorination and Oxidation (FJH-ClO) Process. In milliseconds, faster than you can blink, REE can be extracted from industrial waste and raw materials. No acids or toxic chemicals (beyond the Chlorine Gas used to capture the non-REE). Just heat and Chlorine gas, and bam, you have nearly pure product with some critical minerals and over 90% with all REE.

In just the last ~6 months, this has gone from the lab doing a few kg of material to now producing over a ton of REE a day. They have also started sighting 6 additional locations to continue to grow the operations. What is important with this as well is that while yes, this is a recycling driver, this also can be used on ore and get the same results.

American innovation at its finest, with everything from regular electronic waste to missile and plane parts being able to be run through this, and REE being recovered. The sheer scale-up and lack of toxins released in this process make it something that is viable in the US. It won't make our lands as toxic as they are in China, and it isn't crazy energy-dependent. China has FAFO. This also won't be something you see with the exporting/importing/refining of REE, since this process produces high-purity products that can be easily separated, and in many cases no refining is needed.