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Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 elements including scandium, yttrium and 15 lanthanides. There are a number of applications for the REE in different industries, e.g. super magnets in electrical engines in vehicles and generators in wind turbines, fluorescent lights, catalysts for the automotive end petroleum industry. REEs are crucial concerning the rapidly developing clean energy applications and with the highest risk of supply. To meet the future demand, it is necessary to develop efficient, economi...

The ENVIREE project is focused on the working-out of efficient and environmentally-friendly rare earth elements (REE) recovery technologies from selected industrial waste disposal sites. Compared secondary sources from metal production processes are characterized by the highest REE content among the European objects assessed under the project. The paper presents the environmental aspects of REE recovery from New Kankberg (Sweden) and Covas (Portugal) tailings. Based on the results from stage II of the study, i.e. ...

Rare earth elements (REE) are strategic resources, with an elevated risk of supply instability. Significant price fluctuations related to monopoly in REE mining and production increase interest in alternative sources of acquisition. Substantial growth in demand for REE in the next decade is projected. As a potential alternative sources of REE is considered recycling of electronic waste and the processing of ashes from the incineration of municipal waste. Also the reprocessing of mining waste, both from current pro...

Currently the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is more and more frequently used as a tool for evaluating the environmental performance of products or services. Conducting the LCA is particularly important and valuable for a new product, process or technology. That is also applied for research on the innovative solutions or process proposals. The ENVIREE project funded from the ERA-MIN programme within the 2nd Joint Call aims at complete recovery process proposal of REE (rare earths elements) from tailings a...

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are crucial for modern technologies and renewable energy application, while there is a high risk of supply. REEs have been identified as critical raw materials for the development and the European Union economy competitiveness. Currently, China dominates the market of REEs production and refining. However, there are several REE containing materials not being properly addressed. The ENVIREE project, funded by the ERA-MIN programme, is focused on REE supply for Europe, by addressing the exp...

The aim of the paper is created the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)/Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) under uncertainty of the production of rare earth elements (REEs), from the European sources, mainly neodymium, cerium and lanthanum obtained from secondary sources, considered now as waste. The European sources with the highest content in REE, were identified to be New Kankberg (Sweden), and data from the flotation and magnetic separation processes of the tailings were used in presented case study. Uncertainty assessment in...

Extraction of rare earth elements (REE) from mining wastes may change their physical and chemical properties thus affecting their usefulness for reclamation. The aim of this work was to assess the usefulness for reclamation of mine wastes used for REE production. Samples of mine wastes after an experimental benefication process (n=6) were delivered from Kankberg mine, Sweden. The samples were measured for organic matter (OM) content, specific gravity, maximum water holding capacity (WHC), texture, pH and electric ...