Session_C4_Caffarey.ppt-U.S.DepartmentofEnergy.pptVIP

Opportunities limits to recycle critical metals for clean energies  Trans-Atlantic Workshop on Rare Earth Elements and Other Critical Materials for a Clean Energy Future MIT Boston, 3. Dec. 2010 Boom in demand for most ‘technology metals’ Clean energy developments will further boost demand for technology metals Multiple examples: Electric vehicles batteries cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements, copper Fuel cellsplatinum, (ruthenium, palladium, gold) Photovoltaic (solar cells) silicon, silver, indium, gallium, selenium, tellurium, germanium, ruthenium Thermo-electrics, opto-electronics, LEDs, … bismuth, tellurium, silicon, indium, gallium, arsenic, selenium, germanium, antimony, … … Urban mining “deposits”can be much richer than primary mining ores Primary mining ~5 g/t Au in ore Similar for PGMs Urban mining 200-250 g/t Au in PC circuit boards 300-350 g/t Au in cell phones 2000 g/t PGM in automotive catalysts Low loadings per unit, but volume countsExample: Metal use in electronics Mass recycling vs technology metals recycling “Mono-substance” materials without hazards Trace elements remain part of alloys/glass Recycling focus on mass and costs Recycling chain - system approach is key Consider the entire chain its interdependences Precious metals dominate economic environmental value ? minimise PM losses Mass flows ? flows of technology metals Success factors ? interface optimisation, specialisation, economies of scale ? The total recycling efficiency is determined by the weakest step in the chain Room for improvement in the recycling chain Example of gold recycling Large number of players in the recycling chainLimited number of technology metals refiners Sufficient capacity for recovery of many technology metals available Make sure that critical fractions reach these plants without major losses during the way Ensure that critical fractions with technology metals are treated at BAT processes High yields, minimal emissions Recovery of multiple m