Abstract
The European Union (EU) identified a number of raw materials that are strategic for its economy but suffer at the same time from a high supply risk. Such critical raw materials (CRMs) are used in a wide range of commercial and governmental applications: green technology, telecommunications, space exploration, aerial imaging, aviation, medical devices, micro-electronics, transportation, defense, and other high-technology products and services. As a result, the industry, the environment, and our quality and modern way of life are reliant on the access and use of them. In this scenario, recycling may be a strategic mitigating action aimed at reducing the critical raw materials supply risks. In this work, a design strategy is proposed for alloys selection that minimizes the number of CRMs with the lowest end-of-life recycling input rate. The method is illustrated with an example.
Highlights
IntroductionMost products, which new technologies depend on, are reliant on particular raw elements supply
Most products, which new technologies depend on, are reliant on particular raw elements supply.Silicon, for instance, is the base for the production of fiber optics; rare earth elements are used for the production of smartphones, and new batteries for electric vehicles need cobalt, graphite, and lithium.Countries accounting for the largest share of global production of battery materials are Chile, DRC, and China [1]
Recycling is one of the major mitigating actions used to overcome the increasing drawbacks linked to critical raw materials
Summary
Most products, which new technologies depend on, are reliant on particular raw elements supply. Redmaker et al [5] focused on the rare earth elements (REE) recycling as a potential strategy to reduce their criticality (mainly the EU dependence on China). Most of the energy consumed in all the phases of the lifecycle of the product is derived from fossil fuels In this scenario, sustainable recycling [15] plays a fundamental role in facing the CRMs drawbacks, whatever the strategy used to reduce the product’s environmental impact. Sustainable recycling [15] plays a fundamental role in facing the CRMs drawbacks, whatever the strategy used to reduce the product’s environmental impact It should include product R&D, collection and sorting of end-of-life materials and goods, scrapes recycling, and recycling technologies [16].
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