Opportunities for plasma separation techniques in rare earth elements recycling

TL;DR

This paper explores plasma mass separation as a promising, environmentally friendly, and potentially cost-effective method for recycling rare earth elements, specifically from NdFeB magnets, offering advantages over traditional techniques.

Contribution

It introduces plasma mass separation as a novel recycling pathway for rare earths, highlighting its environmental benefits and potential cost advantages based on simplified models and energetic considerations.

Findings

Plasma separation could outperform existing recycling methods.

Energy costs for plasma techniques may decrease with solar energy.

Further experimental research is needed to validate potential advantages.

Abstract

Rare earth elements recycling has been proposed to alleviate supply risks and market volatility. In this context, the potential of a new recycling pathway, namely plasma mass separation, is uncovered through the example of nedodymium - iron - boron magnets recycling. Plasma mass separation is shown to address some of the shortcomings of existing rare earth elements recycling pathways, in particular detrimental environmental effects. A simplified mass separation model suggests that plasma separation performances could compare favourably with existing recycling options. In addition, simple energetic considerations of plasma processing suggest that the cost of these techniques may not be prohibitive, particularly considering that energy costs from solar may become significantly cheaper. Further investigation and experimental demonstration of plasma separation techniques should permit asserting the potential of these techniques against other recycling techniques currently under development.