Recovery of Neodymium as a Value Added product from Waste Hard Disk of Personal Computers

1.

Title of Product/Design/Equipment

Recovery of Neodymium as a Value Added product from Waste Hard Disk of Personal Computers

2.

IPR Status

Patent/Abroad IPR Details

3.

Application/Uses

Recovery of Neodymium

4.

Salient Technical Features including Competing Features

A process is developed for the recovery of neodymium as value added product from magnets of discarded hard disk. Under optimized condition, sulfuric acid leaches 98% Nd, 97% Fe, 60% Ni and 7.5% B. Acid leaching was followed by selective precipitation of Nd and leaching of the precipitate with 5-20% HF solution.

5.

Level/Scale of Development

50-200 g magnets /10 Kg discarded hard disk (Lab scale).

6.

Environmental Considerations

1-5 L effluent generated is recycled after proper treatment. The solid residue will be utilized as non hazardous filling material in various applications.

7.

Status of Commercialization

Ready for commercialization

8.

Major Raw Materials to be Utilized

Discarded hard disk, H2SO4, NaOH, HF, precipitants, etc.

9.

Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

Dismantling set-up. Leaching reactor, Stirring speed controller, glass condenser. Settler, solid-liquid separation unit i.e. centrifuge, filter press/vacuum filter, Oven, etc.

10.

Techno-Economics

11.

Technology Package

(a) Process-Know-how, (b) Details of equipment & (c) Quality Assurance Methods. Assistance in setting up the plant on separate terms.