Zeitschrift für Geographie und Naturkatastrophen
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Process Recovery of Nd-Fe-B Permanent Magnets from Hard Disc Drives

Nour-Eddine Menad, Alain Seron, Nicolat Maât, Jean-Marie Le Breton and Nachbaur Virginie

The increasing use of rare earths elements (REE) in a number of recent technological innovations led to a rapid increase (>50% in last decade) in their applications. Besides, Europe is one of the most important regions of consumption of these substances. In this context, in its ‘Raw materials’ strategy, Europe puts the recycling at the centre of its concerns to secure its supplies in REEs. Recycling of these substances, on an industrial scale, remains somewhat developed while it presents numerous advantages over the exploitation of primary resources. Thus, in order to increase the efficiency of the use of the REEs and to decrease European dependence on these strategic elements, research and development efforts must be achieved in all areas of their life cycle whether it concerns exploitation of ores or end-of-life equipment such as the one. This paper shows the results obtained the work done in the frame of the EXTRADE project on the extraction of the Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets from the WEEE deposit, developing units operation of treatment of WEEE intended to retrieve the contents of the magnet type Nd-Fe-B and to develop thermal, physical and physico-chemical treatments for producing new magnets or fractions enriched in alloys of REEs compatible with a recycling in the hydrometallurgical production of REE.