• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2014

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.8-15
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• 2018

Solvent extraction behavior of light rare earth elements (Pr, Nd) and medium rare erath elements (Tb, Dy) in the HCl-PC88A-kerosene extraction system was investigated in order to separate high-purity light rare earths (Pr, Nd) and medium rare earths (Tb, Dy) in the mixed rare earth chloride solution. In the batch test step, it was confirmed that the separation efficiency was good when the extractant concentration (PC88A) was 0.5 M, the equilibrium pH after extraction was 0.8 to 1.0 (initial pH 1.3 of the feed), the concentrations of hydrochloric acid in scrubbing solution was set as 0.1 M, the concentrations of hydrochloric acid in stripping solution was set as 2.0 M or more. Based on the experimental data obtained from the batch test, the mixer-settler was composed as follows; 4 stages of extraction, 8 stages of scrubbing, 4 stages of stripping, and 3 stages of pickling organic solution. The Mixer-settler was operated for 180 hours, and the operating conditions were continuously adjusted to obtain the high-purity light/medium rare earths. Finally, the purity of light (Pr, Nd) and medium rare earth elements (Tb, Dy) was reached as 3 N class.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2016

The paper is focused on the economic analysis of two hydrometallurgical processes for recovery of yttrium and other rare earth elements (REEs) from fluorescent phosphors of spent lamps. The first process includes leaching with sulphuric acid and precipitation of a mixture of oxalates by oxalic acid, the second one includes leaching with sulphuric acid, solvent extraction with D2EHPA, stripping by acid and recovery of yttrium and traces of other rare earths (REs) by precipitation with oxalic acid. In both cases the REEs were recovered as oxides by calcination of the oxalate salts. The economic analysis was estimated considering the real capacity of the HydroWEEE mobile's plant ($420kg\;batch^{-1}$). For the first flow-sheet the cost of recycling comes to $4.0{\euro}kg^{-1}$, while the revenue from the end-product is around $5.40{\euro}kg^{-1}$. The second process is not profitable, as well as the first one, taking into account the composition of the final oxides: the cost of recycling comes to $5.2{\euro}kg^{-1}$, while the revenue from the end-product is around $3.56{\euro}kg^{-1}$. The process becomes profitable if the final RE oxide mixture is sold for nearly $50{\euro}kg^{-1}$, a value rather far from the current market prices but not so unlikely since could be achieved in the incoming years, considering the significant fluctuations of the Res' market.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.377.1-377
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• 2001

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.10-12
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• 1991

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.147-150
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• 2011

Since their discovery in the early 1980's, the market for bonded rare earth magnets has shown steady growth. Today these magnets are widely used for our daily life such as computer peripherals, automotive, consumer electronics, and office automation. However, the price increases of rare-earths started from the $2^{nd}$ half of 2010 became even worse in 2011. During $2^{nd}$ quarter of 2011, almost all of rare-earths showed unprecedented vertical price increases, and it brought significant impact to the related industry in terms of the price and supply. This will ask the fundamental change in the policy of the bonded rare earth industry to expand its market share, which has been highly dependent on the replacement of ferrite magnets via relatively higher performance compared to the price at certain applications. In order to achieve the sustainable growth of bonded rare-earth magnets in the future, it needs to change the current paradigm and setup the new business model. This article includes a brief summary of the rare earth price trend and the applications of the rare-earth bonded magnets. The efforts to improve the performance and diversify the applications for future growth have been also presented.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.12-26
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• 2013

In concert with the development of new materials in the last decade, the need for toxicological studies of these materials has been increasing. These new materials include a group of rare earths (RE). The use of RE nanotechnology is being considered in some green applications, to increase their efficiency by using nano-sized RE compounds, and therefore hazard evaluation and risk assessment are highly recommended. This review was conducted through an extensive contemplation of the literatures in toxicology with in vitro and in vivo studies. Major aspects reviewed were the toxicological evaluations of these elements and metallic compounds at the molecular and cellular level, animal and human epidemiological studies and environmental and occupational health impacts on workers. We also discuss the future prospect of industries with appliances using RE together with the significance of preventive efforts for workers' health. To establish a safe and healthy working environment for RE industries, the use of biomarkers is increasing to provide sustainable measure, due to demand for information about the health risks from unfavorable exposures. Given the recent toxicological results on the exposure of cells, animals and workers to RE compounds, it is important to review the toxicological studies to improve the current understanding of the RE compounds in the field of occupational health. This will help to establish a sustainable, safe and healthy working environment for RE industries.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.237-252
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to improve the current understanding of rare earths(RE) and to provide supporting data for establishing occupational health policies by reviewing the toxicological data and issues caused by the use of RE compounds in various fields. Methods: To evaluate the potential toxicity of RE from the viewpoint of occupational health, we summarized extensive reviews of relevant articles in the toxicology(animals and cells), occupational health and safety, and epidemiologic literature. Results: Although occupational RE exposure occurs extensively from ore mining and refining to end users in various industrial applications, epidemiologic study has not been performed among workers up to now. Bioaccumulation and adverse effects of RE have also been mentioned in ore mining regions and nearby residences, but safety standards for each process are insufficient. Moreover, because new commercial recycling technology will soon be applied to various industries, regulation and policies are needed for preventing abuse of recycling. In the results of animal toxicity for a few REs(mostly cerium, lanthanum, and gadolinium), toxicities of liver, lung, blood, and the nervous system were identified due to oxidative stress, but study of long-term RE exposure is required. Understanding the dual effect for RE and discovery of biomarkers pose a scientific challenge in further mechanism studies. Conclusions: In the future, additional hazard evaluation based on animal experiments is required, alongside continuous research for developing analytical methods and discovering biomarkers. Finally, RE occupational health and safety management needs to be integrated into the sustainable use of these materials.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.304-308
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• 1989

The spectrophotometric determination of $Lu^{3+},\;Eu^{3+}$ and some other rare earths have been investigated using Methyl Thymol Blue(MTB) as spectrophotometric reagent. Rare earth elements form a stable complex with MTB abount pH 6.5 and the ratio of its complex is 1 to 1. MTB has a absorption maxima at 440nm and rare earth MTB complex has absorption maxima 610nm at pH 6.5, respectively. The absorbance of the rare earth MTB complex is stable in 7 hours after color developing and obey the Beer law in the range of $0{\sim}110{\mu}g/50ml$. The ligand such as phosphate, citrate and EDTA decrease the absorbance of its complex considerably, and this method has a poor selectivity of each rare earth element and the molar absorptivity is $1.2{\sim}2.0{\times}10^4mol^{-1}{\cdot}l{\cdot}cm^{-1}$. In methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and acetone medium we did not find out any absorption change of the rare earth MTB complex.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.02a
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• pp.280-281
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• 2005