Locksley Resources Limited (ASX: LKY) has reported significant progress in its collaborative research and development program with Rice University in Houston, Texas, advancing a new environmentally sustainable processing technology for antimony.
The project is centred on the development of the proprietary DeepSolv™ Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) system and has achieved key preliminary technical milestones, including the establishment of process parameters for a green hydrometallurgical extraction process.
These results support the scoping of a future pilot demonstration plant, marking an important step toward commercial implementation.
Locksley’s Chief Operating Officer, Danny George, recently visited Rice University to review the laboratory-based DES research program led by Professor Pulickel Ajayan at the Rice Advanced Materials Institute.
The DES system has demonstrated strong potential for the selective dissolution of antimony sulphides under mild conditions using environmentally benign ionic mixtures — offering an alternative to traditional, more hazardous reagents and laying the groundwork for a low-emission, scalable antimony production pathway.
Technical sessions during George’s visit explored several process optimisation parameters, including solvent composition, leach kinetics, temperature controls, and reagent recyclability.
The team also initiated mass-balance modelling to bridge laboratory results with potential commercial-scale applications, focusing on solvent recovery and downstream metal recovery efficiency.
George commented: “It was a privilege to spend time with the talented team at Rice University and see firsthand the impressive progress being made.
“The collaboration continues to deliver strong technical outcomes, and we’re excited about how this work is shaping the foundation for future commercial application.”
George said the breakthrough of the DES-based process stems from its unique solvent chemistry, which improves selectivity for dissolving antimony and marks a major step forward in reagent innovation rather than a full process overhaul.
He added that because the downstream stages rely on well-established hydrometallurgical techniques, the approach provides a viable route to commercial scalability, dependable operations, and regulatory approval.
According to George, the collaboration demonstrates how academic research and industry expertise can combine to advance next-generation technologies in the critical minerals sector.
As the program advances, flotation concentrates and ROM ore samples from Locksley’s Desert Antimony Mine and EV Resources’ Los Lirios deposit will be delivered to Rice University to support expanded testwork.
This next phase will inform the design and scope of a pilot demonstration plant.
Locksley’s initiative to establish an American-made mine-to-metal antimony supply chain aligns with U.S. national priorities focused on critical minerals independence and economic security.