Silex World 

Advancing Rare Earth Recycling and Clean Materials Innovation

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Silex World Ltd is a UK-based innovation company at the cutting edge of rare earth recycling, sustainable materials extraction, and advanced clean technology development. A spin-out from the University of Leeds, Silex World is built on a foundation of deep academic expertise and commercially relevant intellectual property (IP), with a mission to solve some of the world’s most urgent resource challenges—starting with the recovery and reuse of rare earth elements (REEs). Rare earth elements, including neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium, are essential to the modern world. They form the backbone of clean energy technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles, as well as advanced electronics, data storage, and medical devices. Yet despite their growing importance, rare earth supply chains remain highly vulnerable due to geographic concentration, high environmental costs, and limited global recycling infrastructure.

 

Silex World is addressing this gap by developing and commercialising innovative, low-impact processes for recovering rare earth oxides from secondary sources—specifically, end-of-life magnets and industrial waste.

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At the heart of Silex World’s technology is a patented alkali-based chemical pre-treatment process, developed under the leadership of Professor Animesh Jha of the University of Leeds. This inert atmosphere-controlled method allows for the selective extraction and concentration of rare earth oxides from complex waste streams, without relying on conventional acid-intensive hydrometallurgy. The result is a cleaner, more scalable approach to rare earth recycling that reduces energy use, lowers emissions, and offers higher material recovery rates compared to traditional techniques.

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Silex World’s primary target is the recovery of rare earths from FeNdB (neodymium-iron-boron) permanent magnets, which are widely used across consumer electronics, electric motors, and renewable energy infrastructure. These magnets are small in size but rich in high-value rare earth content. However, most are currently lost to landfill or low-grade recovery processes due to the absence of an integrated tracking or separation system. Silex aims to close this loop through its rare earth circularity model—extracting usable materials from existing waste, refining them via its proprietary process, and reintroducing them into the manufacturing value chain.

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In addition to rare earths, the company’s IP portfolio also includes methods for extracting titania, vanadium oxide, niobium, and tantalum from oxide-based materials. These metals are considered strategic for clean energy and digital technologies, and their efficient recovery aligns with both UK and EU critical raw materials policies. Silex is also pioneering research into the responsible reuse of uranium and thorium residues by products found in mineral waste, which could be valorised for future nuclear energy applications.

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Silex World’s approach is not only environmentally forward but also economically strategic. As industries face mounting pressure to decarbonise supply chains and reduce reliance on raw material imports, the ability to domestically recover and reuse rare earths becomes a powerful competitive advantage. With its scalable technology and commercial-ready processes, Silex offers investors a unique opportunity to engage with one of the most pressing global transitions: the move from linear to circular material flows in the rare earth sector.

 

The company is currently seeking strategic partners and early-stage investment to accelerate the scale-up of its processes from laboratory to pilot and commercial demonstration levels. In parallel, Silex is establishing partnerships with industrial recyclers, advanced materials firms, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure downstream integration of recovered rare earths into functional supply chains.

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Silex World also plays a thought leadership role in rare earth circularity, contributing to academic, policy, and industrial dialogues on resource resilience and Net Zero materials manufacturing. The company’s leadership team combines academic excellence with commercial acumen, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs are rapidly translated into deployable technologies. With a strong commitment to sustainable innovation and a clear commercial roadmap, Silex is well-positioned to become a leading player in the future of rare earths.

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From its base in the UK, Silex is aligned with national and EU goals for strategic autonomy, green technology deployment, and circular economy development. The rare earth recycling market is projected to grow substantially over the next decade, driven by increased electrification, clean energy targets, and geopolitical shifts in resource control. Silex World Ltd offers investors an early-mover opportunity into a sector that sits at the crossroads of clean technology, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing.

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In summary, Silex World Ltd is:

• Commercialising patented, clean processes for rare earth extraction and recycling

• Focused on recovering rare earth oxides from magnet waste and industrial by-products

• Offering scalable, low-emission alternatives to traditional rare earth refining

• Developing strategic IP across multiple high-value metals

• Positioned as a circular economy enabler for Net Zero materials

• Backed by a strong academic partnership with the University of Leeds

• Seeking strategic investors and commercial collaborators for scale-up

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As the global demand for rare earths intensifies, and as governments and industry seek to secure sustainable supply chains, Silex World Ltd presents a compelling case for investment. With its proven technology base, strong IP position, and strategic alignment with green growth markets, Silex is more than a materials company. It is a catalyst for the next generation of clean, circular resource systems.

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For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, contact us today.