Critica (ASX:CRI) said independent hydrometallurgical optimization programs showed sulfuric acid consumption of around 1 tonne of acid per tonne of feed, an around 30% reduction in acid consumption, can be achieved at the Jupiter rare earth project in Western Australia, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.

The programs were conducted by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the Centre for Science and Technology of Mineral and Environment (GAVAQ), and Australian Minmet Metallurgical Laboratories (AMML). They investigated acid addition and operating conditions with the objective of reducing sulfuric acid consumption while maintaining appropriate rare earth extraction performance.

The firm is targeting the release of a scoping study for the project in the September quarter.