Rare Earth Recycling Study Finds 22 of 38 Technologies at Proof-of-Concept Stage, Exposing Industrial Scale-Up Gap

Highlights

• Of 38 assessable studies, 22 were classified at TRL 3—proof of concept—with none documenting fully integrated industrial operations.
• Permanent magnets dominated research (22 studies), while dysprosium and terbium recovery remains dangerously underexplored for Western defense supply chains.
• Reported recovery rates exceeded 90% in quantified cases, but many papers omitted mass balances, purity data, and operating costs critical for commercial viability.
• The EU targets 25% recycling capacity for strategic raw materials by 2030, but this review highlights significant technical barriers still standing in the way.