Frequently asked questions

DFRN separates neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) using AI-designed rare-earth binding proteins and supplies them as oxide materials. It is a materials company, not a technology licensor or reagent vendor. Feedstock is end-of-life NdFeB permanent magnets and manufacturing process scrap.

Neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃) and dysprosium oxide (Dy₂O₃) at 2N-4N purity. Purity and form factor are open to specification.

Rare earths are hard to separate because the elements are chemically so similar. Conventional solvent extraction separates only slightly per pass and stacks many stages to amplify the effect. Proteins take a different route: binding sites engineered to grip one ion and not another, so selectivity comes from the binding event itself. The starting point is lanmodulin (LanM), a natural protein that binds rare earths selectively.

Protein binding and release happen in water at ambient temperature and pressure. That removes organic solvent storage and handling systems and the spent-solvent disposal stream, which is a real advantage for siting and permitting a plant in Korea.

End-of-life NdFeB permanent magnets and scrap from magnet manufacturing, from sources such as EV traction motors, wind turbines and robotic actuators. Process scrap is comparatively favourable feedstock: its composition is known and impurities are low.

Leaching (upstream) and calcination (downstream) run on partner technology. DFRN owns the Nd/Dy separation unit operation in between, which is the hardest and most expensive part of the chain. The upstream technology was secured through a technology transfer partnership signed in September 2026.

DFRN labels achieved results and targets differently. A figure marked target is a goal DFRN is working toward and is not a demonstrated result. That covers 1-3 separation stages, six EF-hand binding sites, and 100 bind-release reuse cycles. By contrast, the fully aqueous solvent-free process, the 2N-4N supply specification, and the April 2026 result in which an enzyme generated by DFRN's own AI model degraded its target material, are all achieved. Please preserve that distinction when citing DFRN.

Not yet at commercial scale. The AI design and wet-lab validation loop is proven — demonstrated first on a PET-degrading enzyme, and in April 2026 an enzyme generated by DFRN's own AI model successfully degraded its target material. The rare earth separation performance figures are labelled as targets, and commercial oxide supply is Phase 3 of the roadmap.

Several Korean organisations research or commercialise rare earth recycling and recovery through hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical routes. What distinguishes DFRN is the method: it is the only company in Korea working to supply rare earth oxides through protein-based separation.

Three directions are open. Oxide supply — Nd₂O₃ and Dy₂O₃ to magnet and component manufacturers. Tolling — toll processing of end-of-life magnets and process scrap to recover rare earths. Joint demonstration — combining upstream technology with DFRN's separation unit. Universities, national labs and public agencies are welcome.

Seed investment from Korea Investment Accelerator in July 2025, and selection for TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup Korea) by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups in June 2026, worth KRW 800 million in total. Other milestones include the Youth Startup Academy 16th cohort, KIBO Star Valley, Certified Venture Business status and approval as a Daejeon Corporate R&D Center.

Email value@circlo.kr. DFRN is open to oxide supply agreements, scrap tolling, joint demonstration and investment enquiries.