14 Jun 2024
Get the latest updates on the REEPRODUCE project!
On 12th and 13th of June 2024, the REEPRODUCE consortium gathered at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in Nuremberg (Germany) to discuss the project status and progress.
We have entered the second half of the project where various partners have already started the demonstration phases. At this stage, the consortium focuses on critical activities aimed at validating and enhancing the recycling processes for devices containing Neodymium (Nd) magnets in various recycling plants. This validation process ensures that our system can accurately and efficiently detect the presence of Nd-magnets in a wide range of devices, thereby streamlining the recycling process.
Additionally, the consortium is also in the process of testing a specialised dismantling robot design to extract components with permanent magnets from specific devices. By automating this extraction process, recycling operations will become more efficient and safer.
In terms of recycling capabilities, we are developing specific machines dedicated to separating Nd-magnets from the extracted components. These machines will play a pivotal role isolating Nd magnets, which can then be further processed to recover valuable materials.
Lastly, the REEPRODUCE project is also developing a hydrometallurgical pilot plant to recover strategic materials that constitute Nd magnets. This pilot plant will enable us to refine and optimise the recovery process, ensuring that we can extract the maximum value from recycled materials while minimising environmental impact. In a subsequent step, the valuable materials recovered in the hydrometallurgical pilot plant will be converted into alloys through an innovative electrolysis technology, which will be validated in a dedicated pilot line consisting of an automated electrolysis cell running at improved efficiencies and with the highest environmental standards.
The REEPRODUCE project is a step forward to improve the recycling and recovery of Nd magnets and contribute to a more sustainable and efficient use of our resources!