Phenom Resources Secures U.S. Provisional Patent for Innovative Vanadium-Nickel Processing Flowsheet

U.S. Provisional Patent Filing Protects Proprietary Vanadium-Nickel Metallurgical Technology

Phenom Resources has submitted a U.S. provisional patent application to protect the intellectual property of its innovative metallurgical flowsheet tailored for processing vanadium and nickel. This flowsheet targets the High-Grade Vanadium-Nickel Opportunity initially disclosed on December 19, 2024. The provisional patent filing establishes a priority date and lays the foundation for a subsequent full utility patent application.

Provisional patents offer a cost-effective way to secure an early filing date, while allowing additional time to refine the technology and evaluate commercial potential. For Phenom, this filing safeguards a competitive edge in a strategically vital processing method for vanadium and nickel, critical metals essential to energy storage and electric vehicle manufacturing. Pursuing U.S. patent protection aligns with Phenom’s broader strategy to integrate into North America’s critical mineral supply chains.

Advanced Metallurgical Flowsheet Achieves High Recovery Rates via Hydrometallurgical Processing

Phenom’s metallurgical advisory team developed a flowsheet that achieves approximately 80% vanadium and 75% nickel recovery from high-grade offshore materials through hydrometallurgical processes. These results stem from comprehensive testwork conducted at SGS Canada, a leading independent testing and certification firm in North America, under the guidance of Dr. David Dreisinger and Ms. Jodi Esplin.

Hydrometallurgical processing employs aqueous chemical methods to extract and refine metals, offering environmental and operational advantages over traditional techniques. The high recovery rates for vanadium and nickel demonstrate competitive performance aligned with industry standards. Emphasizing these rates reflects the importance of maximizing metal yield for supplying premium battery and specialty materials markets.

Phenom Pursues Strategic Partnerships to Commercialize Processing Technology

Rather than independently developing and operating a full-scale processing plant, Phenom is adopting a partnership model. The company aims to retain partial ownership and ongoing access to its proprietary recovery technology while seeking a strategic partner to finance and operate the facility. This approach enables Phenom to capitalize on its metallurgical innovation without assuming the full capital and operational responsibilities of a large-scale industrial operation.

The envisioned processing plant would handle high-grade vanadium and nickel feedstock, producing high-purity products profitably at current market prices. Phenom positions this facility as a midstream contributor to the expanding U.S. electric vehicle and large-capacity battery markets, bridging raw material sources and end-use manufacturers. Partnering with experienced industrial operators may accelerate commercialization by leveraging operational expertise and established customer relationships.

Seeking U.S. Government Support Amid Critical Minerals Focus

Phenom is actively pursuing U.S. government funding to advance its vanadium-nickel processing project, aligning with increased federal emphasis on securing domestic critical mineral supplies. Both vanadium and nickel are designated critical minerals due to their strategic roles in battery technologies, specialty alloys, and renewable energy storage. The evolving regulatory and policy environment offers potential federal funding and support for projects enhancing U.S. supply chain resilience.

To raise project visibility among U.S. policymakers, Phenom participated in the Strategic Resources in Competition Conference hosted by the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) in Reston, Virginia. Company President and CEO Paul Cowley and Metallurgical Advisor Dr. David Dreisinger served as panelists during the two-day event concluding on July 22, 2026. The company plans to make conference video content available on its website, underscoring its intent to engage federal stakeholders.

Phenom’s Carlin Vanadium Deposit and Project Portfolio

Phenom holds a 100% interest in the Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, located six miles south of Carlin, Nevada, in Elko County near Highway I-80. The property hosts the Carlin Vanadium deposit, described as North America’s largest and highest-grade primary vanadium resource. Additionally, Phenom owns 100% of the Crescent Valley Project. These assets underpin Phenom’s vanadium exposure and offer potential high-grade feedstock for the processing facility.

Beyond vanadium, Phenom holds options on two Nevada gold projects: Dobbin and King Solomon Properties. These are Carlin Gold-type exploration targets situated in geological settings characteristic of the renowned Carlin gold district. This diversified portfolio enables Phenom to pursue multiple commodities while maintaining a core focus on vanadium.

Intellectual Property Protection Strengthens Competitive Position

The U.S. provisional patent application highlights Phenom’s commitment to safeguarding its metallurgical innovations. Patents provide exclusive rights to prevent competitors from using patented processes, enabling potential monopolistic pricing, licensing opportunities, and stronger partnership negotiations. Securing U.S. patent protection establishes a legal basis to defend its technology in a key market for vanadium and nickel processing.

While a provisional patent is not a full grant, it secures priority and allows time for further development, international filings, or full utility patent applications. The flowsheet’s high recovery rates for vanadium and nickel are central to its competitive value. Patent protection extends Phenom’s exclusive access window, potentially delivering significant commercial advantages if the processing operation reaches commercialization.

Market Dynamics: Rising Demand for Battery Metals and Energy Transition

Vanadium and nickel are critical for lithium-ion batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries, and specialty alloys used in electrical and renewable energy applications. Demand for both metals is rising alongside global electric vehicle production and battery capacity expansion. Nickel is essential for high-energy-density batteries, while vanadium enhances battery performance and steel alloy strength in infrastructure and aerospace.

The flowsheet’s ability to recover high proportions of both metals from a single high-grade source offers commercial appeal in a market valuing integrated supply chains and dedicated processing capacity. Phenom’s positioning of the facility as a midstream operation reflects the segmented nature of critical mineral supply chains, where sourcing, processing, and manufacturing are often managed by separate entities.

Outlook and Future Development Plans

This announcement marks a key milestone as Phenom advances from exploration and metallurgical research toward commercializing its vanadium-nickel processing technology. The provisional patent filing establishes intellectual property foundations, while efforts to attract partners and government funding indicate progress toward a commercial facility. No specific timelines for full patent application or plant commercialization have been disclosed.

Investors should recognize that scaling from laboratory and pilot testing to commercial operation involves significant technical, regulatory, and financial challenges. Phenom’s strategy to secure strategic partners and external funding reflects awareness of capital needs and operational complexities. Successful commercialization will depend on forming viable partnerships, obtaining permits, and sustaining favorable market conditions for vanadium and nickel.