The ReMAg project presented its latest results at the ICHS 2026 – 2nd International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium on September 2-4 in Belgium, through a scientific poster entitled “Sustainable Hydrometallurgical Recovery of REE from EoL NdFeB Magnets: Pilot-Scale Validation and Environmental Assessment”. The event, bringing together researchers, innovators and industrial actors, provided an excellent platform for ReMag to share advances and highlight its contribution to resilient European raw materials value chain.
The poster demonstrated the successful pilot-scale validation of the ReMAg closed-loop hydrometallurgical process that incorporates water and reagent recovery, reducing resource consumption and supporting more sustainable rare earth recycling operations. Results from pilot-scale operation further demonstrated stable and safe process integration under industrially relevant conditions. The recovered rare earth oxides (REO) achieved purity levels of up to 99%, while recovery efficiencies exceeded 95%, with reported recoveries above 97% for key rare earth elements. Material characterisation further confirmed a homogeneous elemental distribution and consistent particle morphology, indicating the production of high-quality recycled REO suitable for re-integration in the production of new permanent magnets.
In addition to the technical achievements, the project assessed the environmental performance of the process through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to confirm sustainability and the positive environmental impact. The LCA results indicated significant advantages compared with conventional primary rare earth production, including lower electricity and thermal energy requirements, reduced water consumption and transport needs, and negligible generation of solid and radioactive waste. The process also enables the recovery and reuse of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and oxalic acid, further reducing virgin reagent consumption and associated environmental burdens.
Overall, the findings presented at ICHS 2026 underline the potential of the ReMAg technology to contribute to a more circular and resilient European rare earth ecosystem. Rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and dysprosium (Dy) are essential components of electric vehicles, wind turbines and advanced electronic applications, making their recovery increasingly important for Europe’s strategic autonomy and resource security. By enabling the recovery of these critical raw materials from secondary sources and reducing dependence on primary extraction, the project supports the objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and advances Europe’s transition towards a more sustainable and secure supply of rare earth elements.
Interested in the full technical details? Download the poster presented at ICHS 2026 here: PDF