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Researchers report a cleaner way to recover rare earth elements from waste magnets, using flash joule heating and chlorine gas to vaporize unwanted metals and leave REEs behind as oxides or oxychlorides. The process, detailed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, achieved over 90% purity and over 90% recovery. A life-cycle and techno‑economic analysis found energy use, greenhouse emissions, and operating costs drop by 87%, 84%, and 54% compared with hydrometallurgical extraction. Rice University’s James Tour says the approach could help the United States meet a growing need by tapping e‑waste.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.