French Firm Targets Rare Earth Metals for Recycling

Rhodia, a producer and developer of specialty chemicals headquartered in Paris, has announced a recycling project that targets rare earth metals contained in magnets. Rare earth metals are often used in windmills, electric vehicles and hard-drive disks as well as in magnets.

The decision to target magnets follows the company’s earlier projects to recycle rare earth metals from low-energy light bulbs and nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries.

The company says the high-grade concentrate from the magnets will be refined and formulated into rare earth materials at Rhodia’s La Rochelle, France, plant, which is under construction presently. Rhodia says it will reformulate the neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, four rare earth metals contained in magnets.

In addition to the plant in La Rochelle, Rhodia is building another facility in Saint-Fons, France. Both facilities are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

Additionally, Rhodia has partnered with Umicore to recycle rare earth metals from rechargeable batteries that are used to equip portable devices, hybrid electric vehicles and other items. That project is expected to be operational by the end of 2011.