Greener way to get rare-earths out of e-waste, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Rice University researchers created flash Joule heating with chlorination (FJH-Cl2) to extract rare-earth elements from magnets.
• The FJH-Cl2 process recovers elements like samarium, neodymium, and cobalt with over 90% purity and yield in one step.
• Compared to traditional methods, FJH-Cl2 cuts energy use by 87%, greenhouse gas emissions by 84%, and costs by over half.
• The new method eliminates water and acid waste and generates useful by-products.

Detailed Insights:

• Traditional methods for extracting rare-earth elements are energy-intensive and generate significant waste.
• FJH-Cl2 offers a more sustainable alternative by significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
• The high purity and yield of extracted elements make the process economically viable for recycling e-waste.
• This innovation could reduce reliance on environmentally damaging mining practices for obtaining rare-earth elements.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Rare-earth elements: A set of seventeen metallic elements with similar properties, crucial in various technologies.
• Joule heating: The process where heat is produced due to the resistance of a conductor when an electric current passes through it.
• Chlorination: A chemical process of introducing chlorine into a compound.