Rare Earth Elements
New method recycles rare earth elements from waste magnets
Raportoinut AI
Researchers at Rice University have developed a process to extract rare earth elements from discarded magnets using less energy and fewer chemicals than traditional methods. The technique, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, heats waste materials rapidly with electricity and employs chlorine gas to separate valuable elements. This approach could help meet growing demand for these critical materials by tapping into electronic waste.