Mapping stocks and flows of neodymium

Abstract

The Master's programme Industrial Ecology is jointly organised by Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. Neodymium applications, especially the neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnet, have substantially enabled continuous miniaturization in the electronics sector and have become increasingly vital to electric mobility and direct-drive wind turbines. With 86% of neodymium primary production, separation and refining monopolized by China combined with its significance to the global (decarbonizing) economy, neodymium has been identified as a critical raw material across virtually every non-fuel mineral criticality assessment hitherto. Through quantifying, modeling and characterizing neodymium stocks and flows using material flow analysis (MFA) and scenario mapping, this research aims to determine the theoretical potential of the neodymium urban mine using the an assessment in the Netherlands in 2010 and 2030 as a case study. Results demonstrate the salience of neodymium flows via the electronics sector in 2010 and 2030 and based on clean technology trends, the role of neodymium in the automotive and renewable energy waste streams beyond 2030.