New energy batteries have a high proportion of rare earth

How profitable is rare earth recycling?

The profitability of rare earth recycling mostly depends on the prices of the elements to accommodate the processing costs. Therefore, end-of-life REE recycling should focus on the most valuable and critical REEs. Thus, the relevant processes, feed, and economic viability warrant the detailed review as reported here.

Will the supply of rare earth elements remain stable?

But some nations, including the US, are increasingly worried about whether the supply of those elements will remain stable. According to the International Energy Agency, demand for rare earth elements is expected to reach three to seven times current levels by 2040; demand for other critical minerals such as lithium may multiply 40-fold.

Why are rare earth elements important?

CO., LTD. ... The rare-earth elements (REEs) have become essential for the production of permanent magnets, catalysts, and advanced materials required for technologies in the green energy, aerospace, automotive, and defence sectors.

Can rare earth elements be recycled?

This review explores the potential of separating and recycling rare earth elements (REEs) from different energy conversion systems, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles batteries, or lighting devices. The REEs include 17 elements (with global production of 242 kilometric tons in 2020) that can be found abundantly in nature.

How many rare earth elements are there?

There are 17 elements in the rare earth element (REE) group, including the lanthanide series elements plus Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium (Y), where Sc and Y tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties (Dushyantha et al., 2020; Jannesar Niri et al., 2024).

Why are rare earths used in modern technologies?

The use of REEs in modern technologies has grown because their properties enable serious technical advantages such as performing at reduced energy consumption, greater efficiency, miniaturisation, speed, durability and thermal stability (Balaram, 2019). Some products require a single element of rare earths, while others require a mixture of REEs.