REE4EU [H2020]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are the seventeen chemical elements Scandium, Yttrium and the Lanthanides. Because of their geochemical properties, REEs are typically dispersed and not often found concentrated as RE minerals in economically exploitable deposits. REEs are considered ‘key-enablers’ of green technologies, as they are used in hybrid electric vehicles, wind mills, and highly efficient electric motors. The dependence on exports from Asia makes Europe, and western countries in general, quite vulnerable. REEs are therefore considered to be materials with the highest supply risk. The REE4EU pilot project aimed at developing a process to recover REEs from RE-containing waste streams. PNO helped this novel recycling technology find its way to the market.

Project title: Integrated high-temperature electrolysis (HTE) and Ion Liquid Extraction (ILE) for a strong and independent European Rare-Earth Elements Supply Chain

Funding programme: Horizon 2020

Duration: 01/10/2015 – 300/09/2019

Overview of the REE4EU project

REE4EU’s technology to recover REEs from secondary sources involves two steps: ionic liquid extraction followed by high temperature electrolysis. The technology was validated and showcased through a pilot plant, integrated into an existing facility. Different waste feeds were used to carry out proof-of-concept at industrially relevant scale. First, permanent magnet swarf (PMS) was targeted. Then, the process was replicated with end-of-life permanent magnet (PM) and other end-of-life wastes from an existing battery recycling plant.

The output material from the REE4EU pilot process was validated by producing and characterising permanent magnets and assessing their quality in terms of magnetic properties, i.e., remanence, coercivity, intrinsic coercivity and maximum energy product, as well as chemical composition. The results showed that the permanent magnets prepared from the recycled material obtained by the REE4EU solution had the same properties as those manufactured using virgin material.

Thus, REE4EU demonstrated for the first time a closed-loop recycling scheme for permanent magnets in Europe. This leads to the conclusion that Europe should develop and implement the right market conditions for REE recovery, as well as enable best practices on end-of-life products’ management to maximise the recovery of REE, especially in the case of waste from electronic and electric equipment.

The REE4EU consortium comprised 14 partners from 8 European countries. The project started in October 2015 and continued until September 2019. Funding was received from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. On September 11th 2019, the consortium gathered to present to the European Commission’s project monitor the latest results and overall achievements.

Project objectives

Provide Europe with a stable, circular value chain for REEs.
Help European industries be more competitive and environmentally friendly by establishing a greener method of obtaining REEs.

Our involvement in the REE4EU project

PNO Innovation Belgium brought its international consulting experience into the REE4EU consortium including extensive project and innovation management, exploitation and business planning expertise. A particular focus was given to the REE market analysis, value chain stakeholders analysis, business planning, communication, exploitation and dissemination (CED) strategies and part of their execution. Watch the video.