About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Fundamentals of Sustainable Metallurgy and Processing of Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Leveraging Molten Alloy Solution Non-Ideality for Magnesiothermic Reduction of Neodymium Oxide |
| Author(s) |
Munro J. Alley |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Munro J. Alley |
| Abstract Scope |
Neodymium is a critical element for the green energy transition due to its use in NdFeB magnets. It is produced from oxide through molten salt electrolysis (MSE), emitting carbon dioxide, monoxide, and perfluorocarbons through use of consumable graphite anodes in molten fluoride salt. A promising alternative to MSE is metallothermic reduction due to the lack of direct emissions inherent in this approach, however calcium is considered to be the only suitable reductant for neodymium oxide. Lower-cost magnesium is preferred, however the standard free energy change of magnesiothermic reduction is positive, ruling it out as a potential reductant. We have shown that the non-ideality of a molten magnesium-neodymium alloy enables magnesiothermic reduction to occur despite the positive standard free energy change, resulting in a molten alloy containing up to 50 wt.% Nd. Hydrogen can then be used to precipitate Nd from this molten alloy as Nd-hydride, enabling reduction of additional Nd-oxide. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, Sustainability, Extraction and Processing |