Hitachi Develops Low Cost, Efficient Rare Earth Recycle Method

Hitachi, Ltd. announced on Monday the firm developed the technology of rare earth magnet recycle from motor in hard disc drive and compressor of air conditioner. The firm developed the equipment to separate and collect rare earth magnet containing neodymium and dysprosium without chemical agent. The firm plans to start the commercial recycle in 2013 after test for cost and yield.

The firm found the method can separate and recover rare earth from hard disc drive at around 8 times faster than around 5 minutes per person for traditional manual method. The machine theoretically recovered rare earth from around 100 units of hard disc drive per hour compared with 12 units per person for hand work. The firm developed new cutting machine and demagnetizer for the machine.

The firm also developed dry method with an extraction material to recover neodymium and dysprosium from rare earth magnet. The new method enables lower cost and environmental damage compared with traditional wet method with chemical agent.