An Ex-ante LCA Study of Rare Earth Extraction from NdFeB Magnet Scrap Using Molten Salt Electrolysis

Schulze, Rita; Abbasalizadeh, Aida; Bulach, Winfried; Schebek, Liselotte; Buchert, Matthias

doi:10.1007/s40831-018-0198-9

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Two studies mentioned that LCA experts had discussions with technology experts about what the hypothetical upscaled technologies would look like (Villares et al 2016;Schulze et al 2018). Muñoz (2019) developed a scenario of a hypothetical upscaled technology as follows (pers.…”

Section: Methodological Principles Of Upscaling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Proxies were used for data estimation in 7 out of 18 studies (Mattick et al 2015;Simon et al 2016;Villares et al 2016;Sampaio et al 2017;Salas et al 2018;Schulze et al 2018;Muñoz et al 2019). They retrieved proxy data from various sources, such as LCI databases (Muñoz et al 2019;Villares et al 2016), the literature and engineering case studies (Schulze et al 2018;Villares et al 2016), online catalogs of the machines (Sampaio et al 2017;Salas et al 2018), and expert consultation provided by technology developers (Simon et al 2016). Energy flows, material flows, and elementary flows of the new technologies were approximated by using data of a similar existing technology.…”

Section: Methodological Principles Of Upscaling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Upscaling methods used in ex ante life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: a review

Tsoy

Steubing

Giesen

et al. 2020

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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The objective of this paper was to provide LCA practitioners with recommendations and a framework for upscaling emerging technologies by reviewing upscaling methods applied so far in ex ante life cycle assessment (LCA). Methods Web of Science was searched for articles published between 1990 and 2019 (April) using different variations of the term "ex ante LCA" as keywords. Suitable studies were reviewed to understand the key characteristics and main methodological principles of upscaling methods. Results and discussion A total of 18 studies were selected for literature review. Review results showed that most studies reported what a hypothetical upscaled technology would look like in the future. All studies described how they estimated data; they applied different data estimation methods, using process simulation, manual calculations, molecular structure models (MSMs) and proxies. Since the review results showed that most ex ante LCA studies followed similar upscaling steps, we developed a framework for the upscaling of emerging technologies in ex ante LCA consisting of three main steps: (1) projected technology scenario definition, (2) preparation of a projected LCA flowchart, and (3) projected data estimation. Finally, a decision tree was developed based on the review results that provides recommendations for LCA practitioners regarding the upscaling procedure in ex ante LCA. Conclusions Our findings can be useful for LCA practitioners aiming at upscaling in ex ante LCA. We provide an overview of upscaling methods used in ex ante LCA and introduce a framework describing the steps involved in the upscaling process and a decision tree recommending an up-scaling procedure. The results show that in theory all data estimation methods described in this paper can be applied to estimate material flows, energy flows, and elementary flows (emissions and natural resource use). Finally, since different kinds of expertise are required for upscaling in ex ante LCA, we recommend that technology experts from different fields are involved in performing ex ante LCA, e.g., technology developers, LCA practitioners, and engineers.

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Section: Methodological Principles Of Upscaling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodological Principles Of Upscaling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upscaling methods used in ex ante life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: a review

Tsoy

Steubing

Giesen

et al. 2020

Int J Life Cycle Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There are several ways to go about data estimation, for example, Cossutta et al (2017) and Mazzoni et al (2019) employed process simulations to estimate large-scale data flows of their emerging technologies. While Piccinno et al (2018) proposed the use of manual calculations to scale up their laboratorybased process, Villares et al (2016) and Schulze et al (2018) utilized the proxy method for the same purpose. Based on their literature review, Tsoy et al (2020) found that the accuracy of data estimation methods decreases from process simulation to manual calculations, to proxy data and data omission.…”

Section: Upscaling Of Foreground Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Employing a Socio-Technical System Approach in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: A Case of Large-Scale Swedish Sustainable Aviation Fuels

2022

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Ambitious fossil-free targets imposed on the aviation industry worldwide demand a large volumetric supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to meet. Sweden's commitment to a 30% volume SAF blending target by 2030 attracts interest in local production. However, the sustainability of local production is largely unknown. Addressing this gap, we aim to explore potential SAF technology pathways and assess their environmental performances in Sweden. To do so, we utilize a socio-technical system (STS) approach for pathways selection and prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) for environmental impact assessment. As a result, we identify two lignocellulosic-based and two electrofuel-based pathways and evaluate their global warming potential, mineral depletion potential, ionizing radiation, land use, freshwater ecotoxicity and human toxicity impact in comparison to jet fuel. Our findings show that the well-to-wake global warming potential (100 years) of 30% SAF is on average 20% lower than that of jet fuel, with non-carbon dioxide species emitted in flight being the major contributors, prompting the need for urgent research efforts to mitigate their potential impacts. Under the assumption that no burdens are allocated to waste material used as feedstock, lignocellulosic-based 100% SAF has a well-to-pump climate impact (100 years) ranging from 0.6 to 1.5 g CO2−eq/MJ compared to jet fuel's 10.5 g CO2−eq/MJ. In contrast, the well-to-pump climate impact (100 years) of electrofuel-based 100% SAF (ranging from 7.8 to 8.2 g CO2−eq/MJ) is only marginally lower than that of jet fuel, mainly attributed to emissions from steel and concrete produced for wind turbine manufacturing. In general, the use of electricity generated by wind power could shift the potential environmental burden associated with jet fuel from global warming to mineral depletion, land use, freshwater ecotoxicity and human toxicity. The STS approach underscores the need to prioritize changes in systems underpinning SAF production, in turn supporting policy and investment decision making.

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“…Therefore, carrying out carbon footprint accounting of rare earth resource development is also essential for formulating low-carbon development strategies for the industry [17,18]. Current studies on carbon footprint in the field of rare earths are mainly from the product perspective, covering topics such as rare earth oxides [17], rare earth metals [19], and NdFeB (Neodymium Magnets) permanent magnet materials [11], and recycling processes, such as NdFeB scrap recycling [20] from the recycling technology perspective [12]. However, there are still knowledge gaps in the carbon footprint accounting of rare earth development, particularly from the life cycle assessment perspective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

LCA-Based Carbon Footprint Accounting of Mixed Rare Earth Oxides Production from Ionic Rare Earths

2022

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At present, there are significant knowledge gaps in the research on the resource and environmental effects of rare earth exploitation, especially the carbon emission coefficient. This study applies the life cycle assessment approach to calculate the carbon footprint of producing mixed oxide rare earths using ionic rare earth resources and analyze the sources and influencing factors of the carbon footprint. The results show that the carbon footprint of producing 1 kg of mixed oxide rare earths using ionic rare earths is 17.8~24.3 kg CO2 eq, but its uncertainty is 15.54%; the total carbon footprint from 2012 to 2017 reaches 1.6 × 108~2.19 × 108 kg CO2 eq/year, and after 2018, the carbon footprint decreases to 1.51 × 108~2.07 × 108 kg CO2 eq /year. The total carbon footprint of illegal mining is around 1.50 × 108~1.59 × 108 kg CO2 eq/ year. In principle, the higher the recovery rate, the lower the carbon footprint of 1 kg REO production, but with the increase in the recovery rate, the carbon footprint reduction benefit brought by the increase in the unit recovery rate shows a downward trend. Finally, the new generation of magnesium salt leaching technology, while alleviating ammonia nitrogen pollution in ionic rare earth mines, will increase the carbon footprint of the product.

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An Ex-ante LCA Study of Rare Earth Extraction from NdFeB Magnet Scrap Using Molten Salt Electrolysis

Cited by 19 publications

References 39 publications

Upscaling methods used in ex ante life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: a review

Upscaling methods used in ex ante life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: a review

Employing a Socio-Technical System Approach in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: A Case of Large-Scale Swedish Sustainable Aviation Fuels

LCA-Based Carbon Footprint Accounting of Mixed Rare Earth Oxides Production from Ionic Rare Earths

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