Value Analysis
of Neodymium Content in Shredder Feed:
Toward Enabling the Feasibility
of Rare Earth Magnet Recycling
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Abstract
In order to facilitate
the development of recycling technologies
for rare earth magnets from postconsumer products, we present herein
an analysis of the neodymium (Nd) content in shredder scrap. This
waste stream has been chosen on the basis of current business practices
for the recycling of steel, aluminum, and copper from cars and household
appliances, which contain significant amounts of rare earth magnets.
Using approximations based on literature data, we have calculated
the average Nd content in the ferrous shredder product stream to be
between 0.13 and 0.29 kg per ton of ferrous scrap. A value analysis
considering rare earth metal prices between 2002 and 2013 provides
values between 1.32and145 per ton of ferrous scrap for this material,
if recoverable as pure Nd metal. Furthermore, we present an analysis
of the content and value of other rare earths (Pr, Dy, Tb)