Opportunities for plasma separation techniques in rare earth elements recycling

Gueroult, Renaud; Rax, Jean-Marcel; Fisch, Nathaniel J.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.066

Opportunities for plasma separation techniques in rare earth elements recycling

Journal Article · Sun Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Journal of Cleaner Production

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.066· OSTI ID:1808875

Gueroult, Renaud ^[1]; Rax, Jean-Marcel ^[2]; Fisch, Nathaniel J. ^[3]

Univ. de Toulouse (France); Laplace, Universite de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France
Univ. de Paris XI - Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France)
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Rare earth elements recycling has been proposed to alleviate supply risks and market volatility. In this context, the potential of a new recycling pathway, namely plasma mass separation, is uncovered through the example of nedodymium - iron - boron magnets recycling. Plasma mass separation is shown to address some of the shortcomings of existing rare earth elements recycling pathways, in particular detrimental environmental effects. Here, a simplifed mass separation model suggests that plasma separation performances could compare favourably with existing recycling options. In addition, simple energetic considerations of plasma processing suggest that the cost of these techniques may not be prohibitive, particularly considering that energy costs from solar may become significantly cheaper. Further investigation and experimental demonstration of plasma separation techniques should permit asserting the potential of these techniques against other recycling techniques currently under development.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0016072

OSTI ID:: 1808875

Journal Information:: Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal Name: Journal of Cleaner Production Vol. 182; ISSN 0959-6526

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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