Heavy Rare Earths: No Easy Extraction Path, Warns KU Leuven Metallurgist

Highlights

• China dominates dysprosium production due to decades of complex rare earth separation infrastructure and technical expertise.
• Selective dysprosium extraction is extremely challenging, particularly when separating it from chemically similar yttrium.
• Recycling end-of-life NdFeB magnets offers a more feasible near-term source of dysprosium than primary ore processing.

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In a direct message to investors and policymakers, Professor Koen Binnemans (opens in a new tab), Head of the SOLVOMET Group (opens in a new tab) at KU Leuven, cautions against oversimplified claims around the domestic extraction of dysprosium, one of the most critical and difficult-to-separate heavy rare earth elements (HREEs).

In a recent public post on LinkedIn, Binnemans emphasized that “_there is no easy way to extract dysprosium selectively from rare-earth ores or concentrates._” Despite the rising hype due to dysprosium’s pivotal role in permanent magnets—used in EVs, wind turbines, and defense systems—the underlying chemistry remains a formidable barrier.

“Most know that REE separation requires solvent extraction (SX),” writes Binnemans, “but many fail to understand that dysprosium cannot be selectively extracted with just a few mixer-settlers.”

The problem is compounded when separating dysprosium from yttrium, a chemically similar and more abundant HREE. According to Binnemans, yttrium’s behavior in SX—especially in chloride solutions using standard extractants like PC88A, P507, or Ionquest 801—is nearly indistinguishable from dysprosium’s, rendering separation “virtually impossible.”

This technical challenge explains why China remains the dominant supplier of dysprosium and other HREEs: it has built decades of infrastructure around these complex separations. In contrast, Binnemans warns, Western startups often underestimate the capital, expertise, and time required to match such capabilities. Rare Earth Exchanges has been repeatedly delineating this point in various ways for a growing volume of retail investors and analysts visiting www.rareearthexchanges.com (opens in a new tab)

Importantly, the Belgium-based expert notes that the absence of yttrium in NdFeB magnet waste makes recycling end-of-life magnets a far more feasible near-term source of dysprosium than primary HREE ore processing. This insight reinforces the strategic importance of REE magnet recycling for industrial resilience.  Note: REEx will be coming out with a comparison of top rare earth recycling companies and technologies.

For those seeking a deeper technical understanding, Binnemans recommends two foundational texts:

• Li, D. (2017). A review on yttrium solvent extraction chemistry. Journal of Rare Earths, 35(2), 107–119.
• Qi, D. (2018). Hydrometallurgy of Rare Earths: Extraction and Separation. Elsevier.

As dysprosium prices soar and geopolitical tensions escalate, REEx urges investors to distinguish between hype and hard science. Professor Binnemans’s remarks serve as a vital reminder: without mastering yttrium separation, domestic dysprosium production will remain more promise than progress.

Source: Koen Binnemans LinkedIn Post (opens in a new tab)

Rare Earth Exchanges is the leading independent platform for the rare earth element supply chain, critical mineral intelligence, and REE market transparency, specialized for the retail investor and analysts.