Sustainable recycling of critical raw materials

Transcription

1 Solutions for Critical Raw Materials Under Extreme Conditions (CRM-EXTREME) Sustainable recycling of critical raw materials Vjaceslavs LAPKOVSKIS (Latvia). Training School "Solutions for Critical Raw Materials in extreme conditions: from fundamental science to industrial innovations", Sofia, 6-8 February 2018 COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020

2 Lecture overview Critical Raw materials in the EU from 2011 to CRMs reduce-reuse-recycle sustainability challenges. CRMs recycling cases: tungsten & yttrium. Perspectives for sustainability.

3 RIGA, LATVIA

4 IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION LINKAGE TO INDUSTRY Non-energy raw materials are linked to all industries across all supply chain stages TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS Technological progress and quality of life rely on access to a growing number of raw materials. For example, a smartphone might contain up to 50 different kinds of metals, all of which contribute to its small size, light weight and functionality. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Raw materials are closely linked to clean technologies. They are irreplaceable in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting. Source: Report on Critical raw materials for the EU, 2013, 2014.

5 COUNTRIES ACCOUNTING FOR LARGEST SHARE OF GLOBAL SUPPLY OF CRMs Source: Critical Raw Materials, DG GROWTH, 2017.

6 IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION First list of CRMs In 2011, a list of 14 CRMs was published in the communication on raw materials. The list of CRMs was established as a priority action of the EU raw materials initiative of The Commission is committed to updating the list at least every 3 years to reflect production, market and technological developments. Second list of CRMs In 2014, a first revised list of 20 CRMs was published in the communication on the list of critical raw materials Third list of CRMs In 2017, a third list of 27 CRMs was published in the communication on the list of critical raw materials 2017, based on a refined methodology. Source: Report on Critical raw materials for the EU, 2013, 2014.

7 IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION Report on CRMs and the circular economy In January 2018, the Commission published a report highlighting the potential for a more circular usage of CRMs in our economy. Reviewing important sectors for CRMs, it describes relevant EU policies, refers to key initiatives, presents and gives sources of data, identifies good practices and indicates possible further actions. European Commission. Study on the Review of the List of Critical Raw Materials. Critical Raw Materials Factsheets.,

8 CRMs COVERED BY CRM-EXTREME PROJECT CRM defined in 2017 CRMs (27) Niobium Tungsten Cobalt HREEs (heavy rare earth elements) (Yttrium) Antimony Fluorspar LREEs (light rare earth elements) Phosphorus Baryte Gallium Magnesium Scandium Beryllium Germanium Natural graphite Silicon metal Bismuth Hafnium Natural rubber Tantalum Borate Helium PGMs (platinum group metals) Vanadium Coking coal Indium Phosphate rock

9 SCIENTIFIC, INDUSTRIAL & SOCIAL CHALLENGES The challenge is to minimize the consumpton oo esou ces and (non- enewable) ene gy as well as the negatve impacts on envi onment and health. Waste Prevention: Reduce Waste Quantity of waste (reuse, extension of lifespan of products) The adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health The content of harmful substances in materials and products Preparing for reuse: Checking, cleaning or repairing Recycling: Materials are reprocessed into products

10 RAW MATERIALS AND RECYCLING RATES Source: UNEP, 2011.

11 WHERE DO CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS ENTER THE RECYCLING LOOP 1) Pre-consumer scraps residues generated during fabrication or manufacturing, rather than From spent products. Some can easily be re-used (e.g. from Magnet Production). 2) Old or post-consumer scraps come from consumer or industrial products. They are likely to be complex scrap in which metals are combined, melted or even altered.

12 CRM MATERIALS TUNGSTEN World production is mostly (83%) concentrated in China. Tungsten in its raw form (tungsten ore) is not exported by China so EU imports come mostly from Russia, Bolivia and Canada.. Source: European Round Table of Industrialists, Pitfield, Peter, and Teresa Brown Tungsten - Commodity Profile. British Geological Survey, no. January: 34.

13 RECOVERING TUNGSTEN FROM HARD METALS. Source: Tomoyuki Ishida et al., Development of Technologies for Recycling Cemented Carbide Scrap and Reducing Tungsten Use in Cemented Carbide Tools, SEI Technical Review, no. 75 (2012):

14 TECHNOLOGY OPTIMISATION AS A WAY FOR SUSTAINABILITY NEW PROCESSING SCHEME (SUMITOMO CORP. 2011) Sources: Itoh, H The Recent Trend of E-Waste Recycling and Rare Metal Recovery in Japan. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment 180: doi: /wm Hayashi, Takehiko, Fumiatsu Sato, Kazuo Sasaya, and Akihiko Ikegaya Industrialization of Tungsten Recovering from Used Cemented Carbide Tools. SEI Technical Review, no. 82:

15 Yttrium demand and application Y - Yttrium is used in phosphors and ceramics production, as well as for catalist and optical device manufacturing. Yttrium is used for a great variety of applications among which as alloying element for special alloys, and to a minor extent, in ODS alloys. The amount of Y for ODS seems to be extremely small, so its substitution will most probably not show much effect on the Y consumption. According to USGS only small amounts of yttrium primarily from laser crystals and synthetic garnets are subjected to recycling processes.

16 YTTRIUM RECYCLING. EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY Industrial sources for recycling of Yttrium: Phosphors originated from LCDs, computers, X-ray tubes, light bulbs and TV-sets, UV resistant glass, optical and thermal control glasses. Yttrium extraction in form of Yttrium oxalate is another up-to-date technique for Yttrium recovery from fluorescent lamps. 5-stage process was suggested: Sources: EC FP7 Re-claim project. [Online]. Available: Hayashi, Takehiko, Fumiatsu Sato, Kazuo Sasaya, and Akihiko Ikegaya Industrialization of Tungsten Recovering from Used Cemented Carbide Tools. SEI Technical Review, no. 82:

17 4 BASIC COMPONENTS FOR OPTIMAL LOOP OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS PRODUCT R&D + END-OF-LIFE MATERIALS AND GOODS COLLECTION & SORTING + SCRAPS RECYCLING + RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES AN EFFICIENT MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH Development and Implementation of new and existing processes Materials Scientists Management Environmental Chemists/ & engineers at all levels

18 Solutions for Critical Raw Materials Under Extreme Conditions (CRM-EXTREME) Thank you for attention! Photo OPTIONA L Contact information: Vjaceslavs Lapkovskis (PhD) Researcher & Assistant prof. Riga Technical University Scientific Laboratory of Powder Materials & Institute of Aeronautics lap911@latnet.lv (+371) CRM-EXTREME crm-extreme@univpm.it