• Resources Recycling
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.10-15
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• 2003

In this study, the separation of rare earths and aluminium from the dried powder of waste cerium polishing slurry was investigated. Since cerium oxide, 40％ of rare earths, is the most stable state in rare earth, the dissolution of cerium oxide in acid solution is not easy. Therefore the dissolution process of cerium oxide by sulfation was examined in order to increase the recovery of rare earth. The rare earths could be separated from aluminum by double salt precipitation using sodium sulfate.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.57-63
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• 2003

In this study, the separation of neodymium was investigated from NdFeB permanent magnet scrap. Decomposition and leach-ing process of NdFeB permanent magnet scrap by oxidation roasting and sulfuric arid leaching were examined. Neodymium could be separated from iron by double salt precipitation using sodium sulfate. The optimum conditions established for decom-position and leaching are as follows: oxidation roasting temperature is $500^{\circ}C$ for sintered scrap and $700^{\circ}C$ for bonded scrap, concentration of sulfuric acid in leaching solution is 2.0 M, leaching temperature and time is $50^{\circ}C$ and 2 hrs, and pulp density is 15%. The leaching yield of neodymium and iron was 99.4% and 95.7% respectively. The optimum condition for separation of neodymium by double-salt precipitation was 2 equivalents of sodium sulfate and $50^{\circ}C$ The yield of neodymium was above 99.9%.