METHODS FOR CLOSED LOOP REDUCTION OF RARE EARTH METAL

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Disclosed methods relate to producing rare earth metals from oxides thereof. A method can include dissolving a rare earth rnetal oxide in an acid to prepare a rare earth metal-acid solution; reacting an alkali metal fluoride with the rare eaith metal -acid solution, thereby precipitating a rare earth metal fluoride; reacting an alkali metal with the rare earth metal fluoride to produce a rare earth metal and a new alkali metal fluoride; collecting the rare earth rnetal; recycling at least a part of the remaining rare earth metal fluoride and the new alkali metal fluoride for a reaction in a new rare earth metal-acid solution including a dissolved new rare earth metal oxide, thereby precipitating a new rare earth metal fluoride; reacting the new alkali metal with the new rare earth metal fluoride to produce a new earth metal and an additional alkali metal fluoride; collecting the new rare earth metal.