PhD defence: Electrochemical recycling of rare earth elements from NdFeB magnet waste

Rare earth elements (REEs) are indispensable in the transition towards a low-carbon economy as they are used in many high-tech and clean energy applications such as wind turbines, hybrid electric vehicles  and lamp phosphors. REEs are considered to be the most “critical metals” due to their economic importance and risks in supply chain. More than 90% of REEs are produced by China and this monopoly, has created fragilities in the supply chain. Recycling is one of the important choices to formulate a sustainable and circular economy for the production of REEs. More than 22% of the REEs produced are consumed for making NdFeB magnets making it an important application from which REEs can be recovered back. This thesis demonstrates four different electrochemical routes that were developed to recover REEs from the NdFeB magnet waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Furthermore, the thesis also discusses the possibility of valorising other vital metals present in the waste feed as a pathway towards development of closed-loop processes.

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Prakash Venkatesan
February 11, 2019