| November 28, 2012 Cobalt discovery replaces precious metals as industrial catalyst Publisher: Physorg.com | |
PHYSORG.com (Chemistry / Metals Science) 27-Nov-12.
![]() Cobalt, a common mineral, holds promise as an industrial catalyst with potential applications in such energy-related technologies such as the production of biofuels and the reduction of carbon dioxide. That is, provided the cobalt is captured in a complex molecule so it mimics the precious metals that normally serve this industrial role. In work published Nov. 26 in the international edition of the chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie, Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists report the possibility of replacing the normally used noble metal catalysts with cobalt. Catalysts are the parallel of the Philosopher's Stone for chemistry. They cannot change lead to gold, but they do transform one chemical substance into another while remaining unchanged themselves. Perhaps the most familiar example of catalysis comes from automobile exhaust systems that change toxic fumes into more benign gases, but catalysts are also integral to thousands of industrial, synthetic, and renewable energy processes where they accelerate or optimize a mind-boggling array of chemical reactions. It's not an exaggeration to say that without catalysts, there would be no modern industry. But a drawback to catalysts is that the most effective ones tend to be literally precious. They are the noble metal elements such as platinum, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium, which are a prohibitively expensive resource when required in large quantities. In the absence of a genuine Philosopher's Stone, they could also become increasingly expensive as industrial applications increase worldwide. A push in sustainable chemistry has been to develop alternatives to the precious metal catalysts by using relatively inexpensive, earth-abundant metals. The chemical complexities of the more common metals have made this research a challenge, but the Los Alamos paper holds out hope that the earth-abundant metal cobalt can serve in place of its pricier relatives. Cobalt, like iron and other transition metals in the Periodic Table, is cheap and relatively abundant, but it has a propensity to undergo irreversible reactions rather than emerging unchanged from chemical reactions as is required of an effective catalyst. The breakthrough by the Los Alamos team was to capture the cobalt atom in a complex molecule in such a way that it can mimic the reactivity of precious metal catalysts, and do so in a wide range of circumstances. The findings of the Los Alamos team have major ramifications and suggest that cobalt complexes are rich with possibility for future catalyst development. Due to the high performance and low cost of the metal, the cobalt catalyst has potential applications in energy-related technologies such as the production of biofuels, and the reduction of carbon dioxide. It also has implications for organic chemistry, where hydrogenation is a commonly practiced catalytic reaction that produces important industrial chemical precursors. More information: Zhang, G. et al., Mild and Homogeneous Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of C=C, C=O, and C=N Bonds, Angewandte Chemie International Edition. DOI: 10.1022/anie.201206051. Provided by Los Alamos National Laboratory | |
| November 28, 2012 Cobalt News and Global Cobalt Interview Publisher: Cobalt Investing News Author: Adam Currie | |
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 4:00am PST By Adam Currie -- Exclusive to Cobalt Investing News
![]() Cobalt, along with a number of other commodities, has come under increased scrutiny as prices continue to fall on concerns related to oversupply5. While prices are expected to remain under pressure in the near term, a number of market players suggest that prices cannot remain suppressed given the emergence of middle-class consumers in developing nations and the commodity's significant increased role in rechargeable batteries. Cobalt Investing News (CIN) spoke with Erin Chutter, president and CEO of Puget Ventures6 (TSXV:PVS7), a mining exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of strategic metals properties. The company's primary project focuses are in Ontario, Canada and the Altai Republic of Russia.
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CIN: Can you provide a brief outline of Puget Ventures, its main project focus and the reasoning behind the impending company name change to "Global Cobalt Corporation?"
CIN: Cobalt prices recorded notable declines over the past 18 months on the back of concerns relating to oversupply. What is your price forecast for the commodity in the medium/long term?
CIN: Puget Ventures bills itself as "Canada's next primary cobalt producer," however, its flagship project seems to have shifted to Russia. Is this an accurate assumption and where will the company's main focus be moving forward?
CIN: The company has gained significant attention surrounding its Karakul cobalt project in Altai, Russia. Can you explain the significance of this project?
CIN: How will this affect the project's overall net present value (NPV)?
CIN: What are the next steps for this project. When might investors expect to see Puget Ventures producing cobalt?
CIN: With the majority of cobalt currently being supplied from "unstable" regions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), do you feel that a project of this scale will alter market dynamics, and if so how?
CIN: Once production is up and running where will Puget's cobalt supply be headed, and who will be the main purchasers? Securities Disclosure: I, Adam Currie, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article. | |
| November 06, 2012 Idaho Cobalt Project Refinery Video Update Publisher: Formation Metals Inc. | |
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- FOR THE INFORMATION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES ONLY -
Formation Metals Inc.'s Idaho Cobalt Project Video Update
The link below provides the viewer with an update on the construction of its Idaho Cobalt Project refinery. This update compliments the original video dated July 2012, and represents refinery construction work completed since that time.
It is recommended to first view the original July 2012 Corporate Video, which is available on the Company's website. In addition, an update video on the Idaho Cobalt Project minesite construction (Oct 2012), is available on the Company's website. Formation Metals Inc. | |
| November 02, 2012 Congo Government Wants 35% of Mine Projects in Code Changes Publisher: Bloomberg Author: Michael J. Kavanagh | |
| The Democratic Republic of Congo may increase state participation in mining projects to 35 percent from 5 percent and raise royalties on mineral exports, according to a report obtained by the country's business association. Click here for the full story | |
| November 01, 2012 Chinese cobalt metal prices level out on costs Publisher: Metal-Pages.com Author: Grace Yang | |
| BEIJING (Metal-Pages) 31-Oct-12. Chinese cobalt metal prices are leveling out on costs, while importers are destocking for fear of potential risks. Prices for Chambishi 99.8% cobalt metal are RMB214,000-215,000/tonne [US$15.54 - $15.61 per pound], while Chinese-produced 99.95% remains at RMB216,000-220,000/tonne [US$15.69 - $15.98 per pound]. ![]() "We are struggling to offer Chambishi 99.8% at RMB214,000/tonne while customers are waiting for lower prices in the depressed market," a Shanghai-based trade source said. Cobalt concentrate 8% is still around $9.5/lb CIF, Russian 99.3% cobalt metal is at $12-12.5/lb after falling by 6% in the past two months, said the source. "We are cutting production because of a lack of business but are not ready to sell 99.95% grade at below RMB214,000/tonne [US$15.54 per pound] because it is unprofitable for us," said a second smelter source in east China. "We prefer to offer stable prices, as long-term contracts have accounted for 70% of the total output of 60 tonnes per month," said a third local smelter source. -By Grace Yang in Beijing (grace@metal-pages.asia) | |
| October 31, 2012 Can cobalt-graphene catalyst beat platinum? A cheaper catalyst alternative Publisher: Brown University Author: Kevin Stacey | |
| Platinum works well as a catalyst in hydrogen fuel cells, but it has at least two drawbacks: It is expensive, and it degrades over time. Brown chemists have engineered a cheaper and more durable catalyst using graphene, cobalt, and cobalt-oxide --- the best nonplatinum catalyst yet. Their report appears in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition Click here for the full story | |
| October 31, 2012 Formation Metals Inc.'s Idaho Cobalt Project Minesite Video Update Publisher: Formation Metals Inc. | |
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- FOR THE INFORMATION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES ONLY -
Formation Metals Inc.'s Idaho Cobalt Project Video Update The link below provides the viewer with an update on the construction of its Idaho Cobalt Project minesite. This update compliments the original video dated July 2012, and represents minesite construction work completed since that time. Proceeds from the $5 million debenture announced on October 17, 2012, are being used to prepare the cobalt project for underground development. It is recommended to first view the original July 2012 Corporate Video, which is available on the Company's website. | |
| October 11, 2012 Demand for This Overlooked Metal (Cobalt) Is Expected to Jump Publisher: StreetAuthority.com Author: Nathan Slaughter | |
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- FOR THE INFORMATION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES ONLY -
![]() Click image above to view the full news article Formation Metals Inc. | |
| October 10, 2012 Formation Metals Presses On with Development at ICP as Financing Talks Continue Publisher: Minesite.com Author: Ryan Jackson | |
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- FOR THE INFORMATION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES ONLY -
Formation Metals Inc. www.FormationMetals.com
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| October 10, 2012 Korelin Economics Report - Weekend Edition - October 10, 2012 Publisher: The Korelin Economics Report Author: Al Korelin | |
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- FOR THE INFORMATION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES ONLY -
Formation Metals Inc. www.FormationMetals.com
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