Rare Earth Exchanges

Koreans Discuss Ways of Recovering Rare Earth Metals from Waste Magnets: A Breakthrough Technology?

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Highlights

  • KIST researchers created nanostructured composite fibers with exceptional adsorption capabilities for neodymium and dysprosium.
  • The technology offers the highest global recovery rates (468.60 mg/g for neodymium) from waste permanent magnets and industrial wastewater.
  • Breakthrough supports resource recycling, reduces import dependency, and aligns with global carbon neutrality efforts.

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (opens in a new tab) (KIST) have developed an innovative fiber-based material for efficiently recovering rare earth metals like neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) from waste permanent magnets and industrial wastewater. Rare earth elements, essential in eco-friendly technologies such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and robotics, are largely controlled by China, raising supply chain vulnerabilities for nations like Korea, which imports 95% of its core minerals.

The Breakthrough

Consisting of nanostructured composite fibers, combining polymeric fibers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offering exceptional adsorption capabilities—468.60 mg/g for neodymium and 435.13 mg/g for dysprosium, the highest reported globally, these fibers outperform traditional granular adsorption materials, offering greater economical, productive, and energy-efficient recovery process.

Associated versatility supports use in a range of waste sources, from spent magnets to industrial wastewater, with simple surface modifications to suit different recovery needs.

This technology has the potential to enhance rare earth recycling, ensuring resource stability while reducing dependency on imported materials. The development also aligns with global efforts toward carbon neutrality by promoting resource recovery from waste streams. Researchers anticipate its expansion to other valuable materials, making it a cornerstone for resource recycling in digital and renewable energy industries.

A core underlying set of hypotheses and assumptions:

  • Economic Viability: The claim of cost-effectiveness assumes scalable production of the material without significant economic barriers.
  • Global Applicability: The assumption is that the technology can be universally applied across diverse industrial waste streams without adaptation challenges.
  • Performance Sustainability: The high adsorption efficiency reported in lab conditions might vary in real-world applications with diverse contaminants.
  • Bias toward Domestic Applications: As the study originates in Korea, there may be an emphasis on addressing specific national concerns, such as dependency on China.

This breakthrough offers promising potential but warrants further testing to confirm its scalability, efficiency in diverse conditions, and impact on global supply chains.

See the paper in Advanced Fiber Materials (opens in a new tab).

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