REEcycle · An environmental-friendly alternative to recovery Rare Earth Elements from spent NdFeB permanent magnets by electrochemical recycling process

An environmental-friendly alternative to recovery Rare Earth Elements from spent NdFeB permanent magnets by electrochemical recycling process

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to many modern technologies, from wind turbines to electric vehicles and electronics. However, most REEs are currently sourced from a handful of countries, and their extraction often comes with high environmental costs. To support a more resilient and sustainable European supply chain for these critical raw materials, innovative recycling solutions are urgently needed. In my project REEcycle, I explored how to recover REEs from NdFeB permanent magnets, a common component in many electronic devices and motors. These magnets are often discarded at the end of a product's life, and despite their value, the REEs they contain are rarely recycled in practice. One key challenge is that the magnets are made of a complex metallic structure, and current recycling methods often dissolve the entire material without selectivity, leading a long recycling route comprising of several steps and extensive use of water and chemicals. My goal was to investigate a more controlled and sustainable way to dissolve and recover REEs, using organic acids in combination with electrochemical techniques. This method avoids the use of harsh chemicals and enables the targeting of specific phases within the magnet structure, making the process potentially more efficient and environmentally friendly. To achieve this, I designed the project around three main steps: (1) identifying which organic acids and conditions work best for dissolving the magnets as a whole, (2) using a high-resolution technique to study how specific parts of the magnet dissolve at the microscopic scale, and (3) monitor surface changes during dissolution in real time, to better understand and control the process. Through this project, I not only advanced the scientific understanding of REE dissolution, but also demonstrated a new path toward selective recycling. The findings can contribute to more circular use of critical materials in Europe and support future policy developments in sustainable product design and end-of-life recycling.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз