Recycling of Rare Earth Elements Using Ionic Liquids for Regenerative Manufacturing

Abstract

The growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in high-technology applications has intensified the need for sustainable recycling methods. Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as a promising tool for selective recovery of critical metals from post-consumer products such as magnets and batteries. This article explores the use of ILs in regenerative manufacturing, highlighting their high selectivity, recyclability, and operation under mild conditions. Recent industrial applications, including processes developed at Queen’s University Belfast and Ionic Technologies, demonstrate the feasibility of IL-based recovery of high-purity REEs. Integrating IL-mediated recycling into circular value chains supports sustainable, secure, and low-impact production of critical metals.