Breakthrough method purifies rare earths element with just water

Scientists at IOCB Prague have developed an innovative water-only method to recycle rare earth elements, specifically neodymium and dysprosium, from discarded magnets. This breakthrough offers a cleaner, more cost-effective alternative to traditional recycling processes that rely on toxic solvents and generate hazardous waste. The new technique uses a specially designed chelator molecule that selectively precipitates neodymium while leaving dysprosium in solution, enabling efficient and environmentally friendly separation. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also holds promise for industrial-scale application, supporting sustainable “urban mining” to meet the growing global demand for rare earths critical to technologies like smartphones and wind turbines. The technology, already patented, addresses key challenges in rare earth recycling and could help reduce dependence on geopolitically sensitive supply chains dominated by China. The research team, led by Miloslav Polášek and including doctoral candidate Kelsea G. Jones, is awaiting feasibility study results to transition the method from laboratory to commercial use. Additionally, the study uncovered the