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Honda Process Recoups Rare Earth Metals from Hybrid Batteries

Honda Motor Co. has begun recycling costly rare earth metals found in nickel-metal hydride batteries to make negative electrodes for new NiMH batteries.
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Honda Motor Co. has begun recycling costly rare earth metals found in nickel-metal hydride batteries to make negative electrodes for new NiMH batteries.

The process, which the company describes as the world's first of its kind, extracts 88% of the rare earth metals in the batteries. Honda says the recovered metals are more than 99% pure higher than that of material typically available on the metals market.

The extraction is being performed by Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. on NiMH batteries collected at Honda dealerships in Japan. The company pulverizes and sorts old battery components, isolates material containing rare earth metals and dissolves them in acid to form an oxide. Molten salt electrolysis removes the desired material, which can be used directly in making new cathodes.

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