| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | NMG-CN |
| Reference year | 2012 |
| Name |
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| Use advice for data set | Users of this LCA data set should pay special attention to the methodological assumptions and allocation choices provided in the Supporting Information and ensure they are compatible with the goal and scope of their particular study. It is important to consider the technological applicability of the REE beneficiation process in relation to the intended application of the REEs. Users should be aware of the environmental impacts associated with conventional mining techniques such as drilling and blasting and include these impacts in their assessment. Additionally, when considering recycling alternatives for REEs, users should account for potential changes in environmental benefits or burdens. |
| Technical purpose of product or process | The rare earth element (REE) beneficiation process described is intended for the extraction and production of REEs from ore, which are critical components in various high technology and clean energy applications. REEs are essential in the manufacturing of permanent magnets (like NdFeB magnets), rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, advanced ceramics, electronics, and various other high-tech applications. |
| Classification |
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Hierarchy level
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| General comment on data set | The rare earth element (REE) beneficiation process described is intended for the extraction and production of REEs from ore, which are critical components in various high technology and clean energy applications. REEs are essential in the manufacturing of permanent magnets (like NdFeB magnets), rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, advanced ceramics, electronics, and various other high-tech applications. |
| Copyright | No |
| Owner of data set | |
| Quantitative reference | |
| Reference flow(s) |
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| Functional Unit | Not Mentationed |
| Technological representativeness | |
| Technology description including background system | Ore is recovered from the open pit mine using conventional surface mining techniques such as drilling and blasting. The mine contains 750 million tons of ore at 4.1% REO |
| LCI method and allocation | |||||
| Type of data set | Unit process, single operation | ||||
| LCI Method Principle | Attributional | ||||
| Deviation from LCI method principle / explanations | None | ||||
| Deviations from LCI method approaches / explanations | In this section, we discuss the life cycle inventory (LCI) in detail. Each subsection discusses one process of the LCA. Section 3.1 describes the conventional method of rare earths in China from mineral sources. Section 3.2 describes the production process used to transform neodymium oxide into an NdFeB magnet. Finally, section 3.3 describes two alternative recycling processes that could be used. Detailed information on the LCI, assumptions, and allocation choices can be found in the Supporting Information. | ||||
| Deviation from modelling constants / explanations | None | ||||
| Data sources, treatment and representativeness | |||||
| Deviation from data cut-off and completeness principles / explanations | None | ||||
| Deviation from data selection and combination principles / explanations | None | ||||
| Deviation from data treatment and extrapolations principles / explanations | None | ||||
| Data source(s) used for this data set | |||||
| Completeness | |||||
| Completeness of product model | No statement | ||||
| Validation | |||||
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| Data generator | |
| Data set generator / modeller | |
| Data entry by | |
| Time stamp (last saved) | 2023-12-24T16:06:40+08:00 |
| Publication and ownership | |
| UUID | 60f15e3b-ce83-496e-98d9-bca7eb3073df |
| Date of last revision | 2024-04-20T15:07:22.076924+08:00 |
| Data set version | 00.01.005 |
| Permanent data set URI | https://lcadata.tiangong.world/showProcess.xhtml?uuid=60f15e3b-ce83-496e-98d9-bca7eb3073df&version=01.00.000&stock=TianGong |
| Owner of data set | |
| Copyright | No |
| License type | Free of charge for all users and uses |
Inputs
| Type of flow | Classification | Flow | Location | Mean amount | Resulting amount | Minimum amount | Maximum amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product flow | Materials production / Inorganic chemicals | 0.09 kg | 0.09 kg | ||||||
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| Product flow | Transport services / Other transport | 0.021 t*km | 0.021 t*km | ||||||
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| Product flow | Transport services / Other transport | 0.378 t*km | 0.378 t*km | ||||||
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| Product flow | Materials production / Inorganic chemicals | 0.09 kg | 0.09 kg | ||||||
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| Product flow | Materials production / Organic chemicals | 0.03 kg | 0.03 kg | ||||||
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| Product flow | Energy carriers and technologies / Crude oil based fuels | 0.97 kg | 0.97 kg | ||||||
| Product flow | Energy carriers and technologies / Heat and steam | 2.7 MJ | 2.7 MJ | ||||||
| Product flow | Energy carriers and technologies / Electricity | 1.2168 MJ | 1.2168 MJ | ||||||
| Product flow | Transport services / Other transport | 0.15 t*km | 0.15 t*km | ||||||
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| Product flow | Materials production / Inorganic chemicals | 30.0 kg | 30.0 kg | ||||||
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Outputs
| Type of flow | Classification | Flow | Location | Mean amount | Resulting amount | Minimum amount | Maximum amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product flow | Materials production / Raw materials | 1.0 kg | 1.0 kg | ||||||
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| Product flow | Materials production / Inorganic chemicals | 12.5 kg | 12.5 kg | ||||||
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| Product flow | Materials production / Other mineralic materials | 0.0275 kg | 0.0275 kg | ||||||
| Elementary flow | Land use / Land occupation | 1.0 m2*a | 1.0 m2*a | ||||||
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| Elementary flow | Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified | 1.22 MJ | 1.22 MJ | ||||||
| Elementary flow | Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified | 0.022 kBq | 0.022 kBq | ||||||
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| Elementary flow | Emissions / Emissions to water / Emissions to water, unspecified | 1.0 kBq | 1.0 kBq | ||||||
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