About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Rare Metal Extraction & Processing
|
| Presentation Title |
Selective dissolution of rare earths from NdFeB magnets by aeration leaching in Sulfuric acid |
| Author(s) |
Sonali Rout, Venkata Lakshmi Borra, Veerababu Gollapalli, Prakash Venkatesan, Mehmet Ali Recai Önal, Chenna Rao Borra |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sonali Rout |
| Abstract Scope |
The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) has made the recycling of NdFeB permanent magnets a critical research focus. This study investigates an oxygen-assisted hydrometallurgical process for the selective recovery of REEs using sulfuric acid leaching under an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. The presence of oxygen promotes the in-situ oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺, enhancing REE dissolution while iron precipitates in the residue. Leaching experiments were performed at 70 °C with an S/L ratio of 1:20, and the effect of particle size (44–88 µm) was examined. pH and ORP were monitored throughout the process. ICP analysis of the leachate showed increasing REE recovery and declining Fe content over time. Post-leaching characterization confirmed the formation of goethite and REE sulfates, with SEM–EDS and XRD revealing negligible Fe contamination in the REE product. This method provides a selective, low-temperature, and efficient route for extracting REEs. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Hydrometallurgy, Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Sustainability |