Rare earth elements in WEEE: Case study of Neodymium potential in hard disk drives

Many developments in the electric and electronic equipment (EEE) and renewable energy technology sector are based on the use of rare earth elements (REE). However, the recycling problem of these materials is not solved yet. This case study investigates the application of Neodymium in one of the broadest products in use. Hard disk drives contain a high amount of theoretically recoverable rare earth elements. Nearly 3,5 % of the total weight consists of permanent magnets with Neodymium, 6,5 % are printed circuit boards (PCB) with other rare earth elements. Due to the compact construction style, shredding is the most common first step of recycling in the fore treatment facilities. This process leads to a total loss of the Neodymium and other REE. Tests point out the used types of connection, show possibilities to dismantle single components and give ideas for further recycling technologies.

The 'rare earth elementsâ€ (REE) is a generic term for a group of single metals, which are related to the third group in the chemical classification of elements and belong to the lanthanides. With the exception of promethium, most of these REEs occur contigued in nature (Rohstoff-Welt, 2012). The REEs have unique physical-chemical properties and are used therefore widely in many electric and electronic equipment (EEE). They are indispensable for information technology, telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics in general and for appliances out of the renewable energy sector. In the present work, we focus the attention on high-performance permanent magnets, which are based on the REE Neodymium (Nd). Consisting of a neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) compound, these magnets can provide a high level of magnet power related to small physical dimensions. Neodymium (Nd) holds a big part with approximately 25 % of the worldwide rare earth elements production (Schaik, 2011). According to a study of the EU (European Commission, 2010) 16.800 t Neodymium were produced worldwide in the year 2006. 55 % of this amount was used for the production of goods, from which 23 % went to the production of permanent magnets. The Chinese mining industry provides 95 % of the whole production. Further on, the authors of the EU study estimate the demand of Neodymium to rise up to 382 % of the actual mining production by the end of 2030, what means a rising demand of Neodymium for permanent magnets of 166 %.

Copyright:	© Deutsche Gesellschaft für Abfallwirtschaft e.V. (DGAW)
Quelle:	2. Wissenschaftskongress März 2012 - Rostock (März 2012)
Seiten:	6
Preis:	€ 3,00
Autor:	Dipl.-Ing. Maximilian Ueberschaar Dipl.-Ing. Ramona Götze

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