Recycling Rare Earth Elements

About

About the Technology Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, with support from the Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling (CR3), have developed a novel method to separate rare earth elements, specifically Neodymium and Dysprosium, from the magnets they are used in to enable straightforward and efficient recycling. The technology has the potential to prevent the need to import all rare earth elements from China, which would provide an alternative source of these critical materials. Furthermore, companies that utilize magnets containing these metals in electric motors, wind turbines, and other devices would be able to improve the sustainability of the life cycles of their products by reusing the recycled materials. The developed recycling method is safe and consists of only 6 process steps (see Figure 2, left). The hydrometallurgical part of the process occurs at room temperature and requires only two inputs - a solid acid powder and the motors to be recycled. The recycling method presented above has been tested and proven to be effective in separating rare earth metals from the motors they are used in. Potential further applications include the recycling of wind and tidal turbines, traction motors from electric and hybrid cars, and HD drives. If implemented on a large scale, rare earth metal import costs could be dramatically reduced and the sustainability of rare earth motors would be greatly increased. FEATURES • Closed-loop recycling process executed at room temperature • Requires only two inputs – a solid acid powder and the motors to be recycled • Inexpensive design BENEFITS • Alternative, US-based supply of rare earth elements • Improved sustainability of rare earth motors • Recycling process can be used to separate other components of motors (i.e., copper, steel, iron salts) in addition to rare earth elements • Sustainable and safe process employing hydrometallurgical steps at room temperature