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U.S. Department of Energy
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Recycling of rare earth metals from rare earth-transition metal alloy scrap by liquid metal extraction

Patent ·
OSTI ID:87775

A method is described for treating rare earth metal-bearing scrap, waste or other material (e.g. Nd--Fe--B or Dy--Tb--Fe scrap) to recover the rare earth metal comprising melting the rare earth metal-bearing material, melting a Group IIA metal extractant, such as Mg, Ca, or Ba, in which the rare earth is soluble in the molten state, and contacting the melted material and melted extractant at a temperature and for a time effective to extract the rare earth from the melted material into the melted extractant. The rare earth metal is separated from the extractant metal by vacuum sublimation or distillation. 2 figs.

Research Organization:
Iowa State University
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
Assignee:
Iowa State Univ. Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5,437,709/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 8-280,440
OSTI ID:
87775
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English