Can recycling of NdFeB magnets be expected in Europe before 2030?

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Elwert, M. Sc. Matthias Hoffmann, Dipl.-Ing. Sabrina Schwarz

In recent years, China’s dominant role on the rare earth market and the associated impacts have strengthened the interest in the recovery of rare earth elements (REE) from secondary resources. Therefore, numerous research activities have been initiated aiming at the recovery of REEs from different types of waste streams, inter alia neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. Although several research projects have successfully been completed, an industrial implementation in Europe is not expected within the next years by most experts. This contribution analyses the reasons for this situation addressing the availability of sufficient amounts of NdFeB wastes, the technology readiness level of the developed processes in Europe as well as economic aspects. Based on these analyses, an estimation of a realistic timeframe for the industrial implementation of NdFeB recycling in Europe will be deduced and critically discussed.