Method and system for separating rare earth elements

Abstract

An objective of the invention is to provide a method and system for separating a particular rare earth element from a rare earth magnet at a high separation ratio and by a simple process. There is provided a rare earth separation method for separating a first and a second groups of rare earth elements contained in a magnet, the method including: a starting powder preparation step from the magnet; a magnet component oxidation heat treatment step; a rare earth oxide separation step from the magnet components oxide powder; a powder size optimization step; a chlorinating agent mixing step; a chlorination/oxychlorination heat treatment step of forming a 'first group rare earth chlorides'/'second group rare earth oxychlorides' mixture; a selective dissolution step of selectively dissolving the first group rare earth chlorides in the solvent and leaving the second group rare earth oxychlorides undissolved in solid phase form; and a solid-liquid separation step.