European Training Network for the Design and Recycling of Rare-Earth Permanent Magnet Motors and Generators in Hybrid and Full Electric Vehicles (DEMETER)

On November 8, 2019, the EIT RawMaterials AWARE consortium is organising a mini-symposium on raising awareness on recycling of electronic waste. The event is co-organised by Recupel, SUMA and SIM² KU Leuven. Registration is now open.

On June 21st, Martina Orefice obtained her PhD degree in Chemistry. She successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Solvometallurgical recovery of metal values from Sm‒Co and Nd‒Fe‒B permanent magnets”.

Within the framework of the ETN DEMETER project rare-earth permanent magnets were treated with solvometallurgical solutions to remove the metalllic coating prior to direct recycling. The work is published in RSC Advances

Last week the global association for rare-earth industry stakeholders, was officially erected. SIM² KU Leuven is happy to have contributed to this milestone for the global rare earth community and will continue to support “REIA”.

The EU Research Executive Agency selected DEMETER as the Marie Skłodowska Curie project to be featured in the REA 10th anniversary video. Gwen Bailey explains the importance of the DEMETER research for clean mobility in the EU.

Rare-earths permanent magnets were treated with solvometallurgical solutions of Br2 in organic solvents to remove the Ni-Cu-Ni coating prior to direct recycling. A comparison with 2 M HNO3 treatment proved the advantages of the solvometallurgical process.

Electrodeposition of rare earth element-transition metal (REE-TM) from non-aqueous solution is a promising alternative to high-temperature molten-salt electrolysis.