Critical Raw Materials - Advanced Recycling Technologies and Processes: Recycling of High-Performance Magnets

摘要

The current ongoing transition in the energy and mobility sector is partially based on elements that can be classified as critical, like rare earths and cobalt. For these elements, recycling can be one option to lower the demand on primary raw materials. However, the high complexity of devices makes recycling for technology metals complicated. Therefore, the generation of fractions containing concentrated valuable elements or materials is an important step in the process chain of treating secondary raw materials. This contribution will focus on innovative recycling technologies for the recovery of critical raw materials from secondary resources by hydrogen processes and bioleaching. These recycling technologies can be adapted amongst others for rare earth based permanent magnets (REPM) and lithium-ion batteries. Hence, in the field of permanent magnets two recycling pathways will be highlighted: (1) Direct recycling of scrap magnets via hydrogen decrepitation to synthesise recycled magnets, and (2) bioleaching of scrap magnets in powder form with variable microorganism cultures to maximize the extraction rate of rare earth elements.