Rare earth magnets are critical components in technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronics, but only a tiny fraction is currently recycled globally due to collection difficulties. Cyclic Materials has developed a two-stage recycling process involving ‘spoke’ facilities that shred and separate magnet material, and centralized ‘hubs’ using chemical extraction to recover purified rare earth metals. The company’s first spoke and hub plants in Arizona and Ontario are set to begin commercial operations next year, potentially establishing one of the largest Western recycling operations.
Growing demand for rare earth metals like neodymium, driven by the energy transition, is challenged by China’s dominance over supply chains and export restrictions. Cyclic Materials aims to address this through extensive device collection partnerships and by recycling other metals like aluminum and copper to support profitability. Despite these efforts, rare earth recycling faces economic hurdles, including high collection costs and a limited number of buyers outside China.
With significant funding and plans to expand across North America, Europe, and Asia, Cyclic Materials is also advancing innovation through an R&D center focused on industry-specific recycling challenges. Successful scaling of these operations could reduce environmental impacts by using less water and emitting fewer greenhouse gases compared to traditional mining, contributing to a more sustainable critical minerals supply chain.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
