Dissolution and separation of rare earth metals
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsAnja-Verena Mudring, Denis Prodius, Cajetan Ikenna Nlebedim
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Abstract
A chemical dissolution method is provided for use in recycling rare earth metal-containing material such as permanent magnet material including end-of-life magnet shapes, magnet scrap and Terfenol-D alloy material by mixing the rare earth metal-containing material and an aqueous solution of a copper (II) salt to dissolve the material in the solution. The dissolved rare earth metal is then precipitated from the aqueous solution as a rare earth metal compound, such as a rare earth metal oxalate, sulfate or phosphate from which rare earth metal oxide can be obtained.
Claims25
A method for use in recycling rare earth metal-containing material wherein the rare earth metal comprises at least one of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, comprising contacting the rare earth metal-containing material and an acid-free aqueous solution of a copper (II) salt and dissolving the rare earth metal-containing material in the aqueous copper solution wherein the dissolved rare earth metal can be chemically precipitated as a rare earth metal compound from the acid-free aqueous solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.