Neodymium Metal Production Through Metallothermic Reduction
摘要
NeodymiumNeodymium (Nd) metalMetal playsMetallothermic reduction a crucial role in modern technology due to its unique magnetic and electronic properties. It is a critical raw material for manufacturing high-strength permanent magnets in wind turbines, electric vehicles and electronic devices. Nd is industrially recovered as oxide, oxalate or halideHalide reduction saltSalts after multistage separationSeparation and refining methods applied to the primary minerals such as bastnasite and monazite. The purified product is further reduced to metalMetal suitable for magnet manufacturing. Electro-metallurgical methods presently account for the largest quantities of Nd metalMetal commercially produced. These processes utilized consumable carbon-based anodes and molten fluoride electrolyte, generating effluents with a significant environmental footprint. This study presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly metallothermic reductionMetallothermic reduction process for producing magnet-grade Nd metalMetal and master alloy. The approach employs sodium metalMetal as a reducing agent in a low-melting eutectic system to recover directly Nd metalMetal and master alloys.