• Energy Research

Abstract End-of-life NdFeB magnets are an important secondary source of rare-earth elements (REEs) and cobalt. Recycling of these magnets can also mitigate the supply problems of its constituent critical REEs (mainly neodymium and dysprosium). The recycling of bonded NdFeB magnets has received much less attention than that of sintered NdFeB magnets. In this study, a novel flow sheet is presented for recycling of bonded NdFeB magnets that is applicable to sintered magnets as well. Demagnetized magnet powder was mixed with 25 or 40 wt./vol% NaOH solution and baked at 150 to 200 °C for 30 to 540 min. In this way, REE metals were transformed into their corresponding hydroxides, whereas iron metal formed NaFeO2. By washing the reaction mixture with water, 96.5% of Na was recovered as NaOH and Na2CO3, whereas 90.3% of B was recovered as borax. The calcine containing REE hydroxides and iron oxide was then leached at 60 or 90 °C with 20 vol% Versatic Acid 10 diluted in an aliphatic diluent. >95% of the REEs were dissolved, with

The combination of ionic liquids with Cyanex 923 improves the separation of Nd(iii) and Dy(iii).

The polymeric binder of bonded NdFeB magnets can be dissolved in ionic liquids with strongly coordinating anions and the magnetic powder can be reused for manufacturing of new magnets.