Extraction and optimization of neodymium from molten fluoride electrolysis

[Display omitted] Most rare earth elements (REEs) are critical materials of extreme prominence. Because of their criticality, their convalescence into metal from rare earth oxide (REO) and their recycling from end-of-life materials are essential for the proficient use and safeguard of natural resources. With pyrometallurgical approaches using potential versus partial oxidation pressure (E-pO2-) diagrams, the conditions for making neodymium are established by which REOs are dissolved in a molten halide bath to form pure Nd metal in the electrolysis process. This paper also expands on how the diagrams are used and verified through design of experiment studies, which result in statistical rejoin models based on molten salt electrolysis for extracting neodymium from its oxide in a fluoride bath.