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Sourcing, Refining and Recycling of Rare-Earth Magnets

Author

Listed:
  • John Ormerod

    (John Ormerod Consulting Limited Liability Company, Loudon, TN 37774, USA)

  • Anirudha Karati

    (Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Laboratory, Division of Critical Materials, US DOE, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • Ajay Pal Singh Baghel

    (Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Laboratory, Division of Critical Materials, US DOE, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • Denis Prodius

    (Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Laboratory, Division of Critical Materials, US DOE, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • Ikenna C. Nlebedim

    (Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Laboratory, Division of Critical Materials, US DOE, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • John Ormerod & Anirudha Karati & Ajay Pal Singh Baghel & Denis Prodius & Ikenna C. Nlebedim, 2023. "Sourcing, Refining and Recycling of Rare-Earth Magnets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-40, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14901-:d:1260459
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jaroslav Dostal, 2017. "Rare Earth Element Deposits of Alkaline Igneous Rocks," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Gavin Harper & Roberto Sommerville & Emma Kendrick & Laura Driscoll & Peter Slater & Rustam Stolkin & Allan Walton & Paul Christensen & Oliver Heidrich & Simon Lambert & Andrew Abbott & Karl Ryder & L, 2019. "Recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 75-86, November.
    3. Pavel, Claudiu C. & Lacal-Arántegui, Roberto & Marmier, Alain & Schüler, Doris & Tzimas, Evangelos & Buchert, Matthias & Jenseit, Wolfgang & Blagoeva, Darina, 2017. "Substitution strategies for reducing the use of rare earths in wind turbines," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 349-357.
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    Cited by:

    1. Koese, Maarten & van Nielen, Sander & Bradley, Jessie & Kleijn, René, 2025. "The dynamics of accelerating end-of-life rare earth permanent magnet recycling: A technological innovation systems approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).

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