Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Innovation Earns Prestigious Honor

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The innovative magnet recycling technique that fosters recovery of rare earth metals and cobalt won prestigious award. This year’s Notable Technology Development Award by the U.S. Federal Laboratories Consortium was awarded to researchers at Critical Materials Institute (CMI) and Ames Laboratory, who developed the environmentally sound process which makes use of magnets dissolved in water-based solutions.

Unlike traditional acid-based dissolution processes, the new technology guarantees elimination of operational hazards and negative environmental impacts. Ikenna Nlebedim, the lead investigator for the research stated that the technique offers high purity and efficiency, that too without causing much of an economical impact. The process is capable of recovering cobalt in addition to rare earth materials. The rare earths thus recovered are of 99% purity and are extensively reused in manufacture of new magnets, whereas cobalt finds its use in making battery cathodes.

Chris Haase, Director, CMI stated that the innovative technique demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to deliver innovations that help to reduce the country’s reliance on specialty materials imported from other countries.

Meantime, the U.S. Federal Laboratories Consortium noted that the magnet recycling technique assumes great significance, as it boosts domestic recovery of critical metals used by an array of industries including industry, defense and electronics.