Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SecREEts (Secure European Critical Rare Earth Elements)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-06-01 al 2022-11-30
Currently, the global mining of rare earth elements (REE) is in the range of 220 - 240 000 tonnes according to the US Gelogical Survay (USGS). Top 4 mining countries are China, USA, Myanmar (Burma) and Australia. The production of individual REE is dominated by China where most of the separation is taking place. Concentrate from USA is currently shipped to China for refining. The mineral concentrate from Australia is refined outside China, in Malaysia. As no mining of rare earths are currently taking place in Europe, EU is 100 % dependent on import. SecREEts will create an integrated value chain for production of rare earth elements in Europe based on process demonstrations in three pilots. Rare earth concentrate will be extracted from fertiliser production followed by separation into individual rare earth oxides using a novel separation technology. Nd, Pr, and Dy oxides will be converted to metals for high strength permanent magnets in state-of-the-art pilot electrowinning cells. Hence, the aim of SecREEts is to provide an integrated value chain for rare earth elements in Europe and will provide part of the solution for a secure supply of rare earth elements in Europe.
Important for society:
European high technology industry is heavily relying on rare earth elements. Major uses in Europe is permanent magnets, catalysts and metallurgical alloys. The high strength, small sized magnets obtained using rare earth metals are critical in a wide range of applications, including many applications in the green revolution. Some typical uses are electrical motors and generators, valves, sensors, and medical instruments. Many of the advanced products produced in Europe rely on a secure supply of rare earth elements and shortage of these critical materials may severely jeopardise many jobs in Europe.
Overall objectives:
The overall objective of the SecREEts project is to pave the road for a sustainable and economical production of rare earth elements in Europe, that way secure the most critical parts of European manufacturing of products dependent on rare earth elements.
In the second period, further verification and optimisation of the pilots have been in focus. Good progress have been achieved in all pilot stages and products have been verified according to expectations. Outreach activities have also continued at the local manufacturing sites as well as in other fora. In spite of many hurdles and delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has continued with high focus on activities directed towards reaching the main objectives of verifying the processes.
In the third period, the integrated value chains have been further optimised. All processing pilots have demonstrated excellent performance resulting in high quality products through the whole value chain, including magnet performance, demonstrating that rare earth elements can be achieved through European value chain. For one of the pilots developments, planning towards the first industrial plant is taking place.
Besides securing rare earth production in Europe, the expected outcome is also creating new and securing existing jobs in Europe, reduce the import risks and support the growing green technology industry in Europe. Overall, this will strengthen Europe as resource efficient and environmentally conscious area of the earth.