Sourcing, Refining and Recycling of Rare-Earth Magnets

Ormerod, John; Karati, Anirudha; Baghel, Ajay Singh; Prodius, Denis; Nlebedim, Ikenna C.

doi:10.3390/su152014901

Title: Sourcing, Refining and Recycling of Rare-Earth Magnets

Journal Article · 15 October 2023 · Sustainability (Basel)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014901 · OSTI ID:2216904

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John Ormerod Consulting Limited Liability Company, Loudon, TN (United States)
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Permanent magnets today are used in a wide range of transportation, industrial, residential/commercial, consumer electronics, defense, domestic, data storage, wind energy, and medical markets and applications. There are five classes of commercial permanent magnet materials; however, magnets based on Nd-Fe-B account for over 60% of the global magnet production by value. They typically contain around 31 wt.% of rare earth elements (REEs), principally, Nd and Pr, plus Dy for higher-temperature performance. Nd-Fe-B magnets are forecast to grow throughout this decade, largely driven by the growth in electric vehicles of all types. However, several studies forecast a shortfall of the primary REEs from mined resources. In this paper, the sourcing, processing, and recycling of REEs are discussed. Additionally, presented are the advantages and disadvantages of the major recovery and recycling technologies for REEs.

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Research Organization:: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11358

OSTI ID:: 2216904

Report Number(s):: IS-J--11,195

Journal Information:: Sustainability (Basel), Journal Name: Sustainability (Basel) Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 15; ISSN 2071-1050

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
rare earth elements
magnets
Nd-Fe-B
electric vehicles
motors
recycling

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