Sustainable Nd Recovery
Upscaling the recovery of Neodymium from secondary sources of NdFeB Magnets for a greener Europe.
The Critical Challenge
Neodymium (Nd) is a critical raw material essential for the green transition. It is the key ingredient in NdFeB permanent magnets used in high-performance Electric Vehicle (EV) motors and wind turbine generators.
However, Europe faces a significant supply risk, relying heavily on imports. Traditional recycling methods are often costly, energy-intensive, and fail to recover high-purity metals suitable for reuse in high-tech applications.
The NdCycle2 Solution
NdCycle2 introduces a breakthrough technology developed by Proses Makina. We move beyond simple recycling to strategic recovery.
Our approach combines advanced physical separation with targeted chemical treatment. This allows us to extract Neodymium with 99% purity from end-of-life magnets, creating a closed-loop supply chain right here in Europe.
Project Objectives & Scope
NdCycle2 aims to revolutionize the Rare Earth Elements (REE) sector by upscaling the recovery of Neodymium (Nd) from end-of-life NdFeB magnets. The project is strategically positioned within the EIT RawMaterials portfolio to address the "D2 Acceleration" segment, focusing on scaling up innovative technologies in the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) area.
The core objective is to demonstrate that secondary sources can be a viable, sustainable, and economically profitable alternative to mining. By securing feedstock directly from magnet producers and recyclers within the RIS region, NdCycle2 minimizes logistics costs and carbon footprint while maximizing local economic value.
The Technology Process
A two-stage approach ensuring maximum efficiency and purity.
Physical Separation
Preprocessing end-of-life magnets to separate coatings and impurities, ensuring a clean input material.
Chemical Treatment
Advanced hydrometallurgical processing to selectively dissolve and precipitate Neodymium.
99% Pure Nd Metal
Recovery of high-purity metal ready for validation and re-introduction into the manufacturing cycle.
Impact Assessment
EU Supply Security
Targeting to contribute at least 10% to the total EU demand for Neodymium, reducing reliance on external markets.
Economic Growth
Projected cumulative revenues of €16 million within 6 years, driving growth in the RIS area.
Industrial Scalability
From a 10tn/year pilot to a large-scale unit treating 300-500 tons/year of EoL magnets.
Cost Efficiency
Achieving a 30% lower cost process compared to current benchmarking technologies.
Compared to traditional mining
High quality Nd metal recovery
Vs. benchmarking technologies
Cumulative over 6 years
The Consortium
A strategic partnership bridging innovation and industry.
Proses Makina
Lead PartnerDriving the technology development, R&D, and pilot production facilities.
Magneti Ljubljana
ValidationTesting the quality of recovered Nd metal to ensure market specifications.
National Institute of Chemistry
R&D PartnerProviding scientific expertise and advanced chemical analysis for process optimization.
SENC
Project PartnerOffering strategic industrial support and expertise for project implementation.
