Economic assessment for recycling critical metals from hard disk drives using a comprehensive recovery process

Nguyen, Ruby Thuy; Diaz, Luis A.; Imholte, D. Devin; Lister, Tedd E.

doi:10.1007/s11837-017-2399-2

Economic assessment for recycling critical metals from hard disk drives using a comprehensive recovery process

Journal Article · Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · JOM. Journal of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-017-2399-2· OSTI ID:1363744

Nguyen, Ruby Thuy ^[1]; Diaz, Luis A. ^[1]; Imholte, D. Devin ^[1]; Lister, Tedd E. ^[1]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Since the 2011 price spike of rare earth elements (REEs), research on permanent magnet recycling has blossomed globally to reduce future REE criticality. Hard disk drives (HDDs) have emerged as one feasible feedstock for recovering valuable REEs such as praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium. However, current processes for recycling e-waste only focus on certain metals due to feedstock and metal price uncertainties. In addition, some believe that recycling REEs is unprofitable. To shed some light on the economic viability of REE recycling from HDDs, this paper combines techno-economic information of a hydrometallurgical process with end-of-life HDD availability in a simulation model. Results showed that adding REEs to HDD recycling was profitable given current prices. As a result, recovered REEs could meet up to 5.1% rest of world (excluding China) magnet demand. Aluminum, gold, copper scrap and REEs were the primary main revenue streams from HDD recycling.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1363744

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--17-41436; PII: 2399

Journal Information:: JOM. Journal of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Journal Name: JOM. Journal of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 69; ISSN 1047-4838

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Impact of the establishment of US offshore wind power on neodymium flows Fishman, Tomer; Graedel, T. E. Nature Sustainability, Vol. 2, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0252-z	journal	March 2019
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
HDD recycling
REE recovery
economic viability
hydrometallurgical process
simulation model

Economic assessment for recycling critical metals from hard disk drives using a comprehensive recovery process

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References (15)

Cited By (3)

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