ISO 22450:2020

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22450
First edition
2020-10
Recycling of rare earth elements —
Requirements for providing
information on industrial waste and
end-of-life products
Recyclage des terres rares — Exigences pour la mise à disposition de
données relatives aux déchets industriels et aux produits en fin de vie
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
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ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Forms of REEs in industrial waste and EOL products . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 In REE magnets . 2
4.3 In LEDs . 3
4.4 In NiMH batteries . 3
4.5 In catalysts . 3
4.6 Other REE waste products . 3
5 Classification and codes . 3
6 Recycling information . 5
Annex A (informative) Forms for information exchange . 6
Bibliography .13
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 298, Rare earth.
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iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Rare earth elements (REEs) comprise the lanthanoid series elements plus scandium and yttrium,
which have similar chemical and physical properties and are often found in the same ores and deposits.
The importance of REEs has increased greatly due to their important role in high performance and
functional applications in permanent magnets, electric vehicles, motors, wind generators, light-
emitting diodes (LED), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, etc. Magnets can be also classified into
manufacturing methods. The type of magnet is useful information for recycling procedures.
Magnets account for the highest market share of REEs by value. REE-containing multi-component
alloys can have a complex compositional make-up. The variants include compositions such as
Sm Co , Sm(Co Fe Cu Zr ) , Sm(Co Fe Cu Zr Ti ) , Sm Fe N , Nd(Fe,Mo) N ,
62 38 0.69 0.2 0.1 0.01 7.2 0.67 0.22 0.1 0.07 0.01 7.1 2 17 x 12 x
Sm (Fe,M) N , sintered Nd Fe B/α-Fe, Sm Fe N /α-Fe, PrFeCuB, Tb Dy Fe (x ~0,3) and others are
3 29 x 2 14 2 17 x x 1−x 2
used in permanent magnets. Due to the complexity involved in processing of these magnets, several
different manufacturing routes are used. During the production stages, industrial waste containing
REEs is produced and often recycled. Magnets found in end-of-life (EOL) or broken electronics, hard
disk drives, motors, generators, etc. also contribute to waste.
Phosphors and luminescence applications of REEs constitute about a one-third share of the total
demand for REEs. REEs contained in (La Ce Tb )PO , (Y Eu )O , (Ba Eu )MgAl O ,
0.6 0.27 0.13 4 1.94 0.06 3 0.9 0.1 10 17
Ca Eu AlSiN , (Y Ce ) Al O , etc. are important materials used in phosphor and LED
0.98 0.02 3 0.98 0.02 3 5 12
semiconductor technology. The LED manufacturing process is complex and is undergoing much change
with the growth of the industry and the changes in demand patterns of associated commodities. During
the production stages of LEDs, a lot of waste is created, which is recycled. EOL LEDs found in broken
smartphones, TVs, display panels, cameras, etc. also contribute to waste.
Batteries make up a relatively lower amount of the total demand for REEs. REEs contained in multi-
component alloys such as LaNi , La Nd Ni Co Si , La Nd Ni Co Al and MmNi Co Al
5 0.8 0.2 2.5 2.4 0.1 0.8 0.2 2.5 2.4 0.1 3.5 0.7 0.8
are used in rechargeable NiMH batteries due to their superior hydrogen storage properties. The
production of these NiMH batteries produces waste, which is generally recycled. EOL batteries also
contribute to waste.
Numerous categories are schematically illustrated in Figure 1 in which waste can be generated during
manufacturing to the EOL stage for magnets, LEDs and batteries.
Figure 1 — Waste generation during various processes
Resource scarcity of these valuable commodities is inevitable. Furthermore, the accumulation of waste
materials creates environmental and economic problems. A viable option to ensure a smooth balance of
supply and demand is to recycle these elements.
[3]
Table 1 summarizes the expected REE waste stock that will be accumulated until 2020 . It also gives
the indication of recycled REE stock until 2020 by keeping in view the maturity of recycling techniques
and industry.
[3]
Table 1 — Expected REE waste stock in the year 2020
Expected REE stock in 2020 Recycling process Recycled REE in 2020
REE application
(tons) efficiency (tons)
Magnets 300 000 55 % 2 333
Lamp phosphors 23 000 80 % 6 600
NiMH batteries 50 000 50 % 1 750
NOTE  This table presents the current distribution, however, markets and waste distribution can change over time.
There is a big difference in amount of waste generated by REEs and what is recycled due to a lack of
maturity of recycling technologies and communication formats between manufacturers/producers
and recyclers. In the REE recycling process, an important initial step is the identification of products
containing REEs. A typical recycling process is shown in Figure 2.
vi © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Key
black arrows forward steps
red arrows additional steps proposed in this document

NOTE This document, ISO/TS 22451 and ISO 22453 are documents for ensuring a smooth recovery of REE from waste.
Figure 2 — Typical recycling process
This document defines REE-related substances that are recycled at the product stage as waste or
EOL products and suggests ways to facilitate their recycling through an identification of the waste
composition. ISO/TS 22451 specifies measurement methods of REEs in industrial waste and EOL
products. ISO 22453 focuses on the management of a database obtained from communication with the
producer, recycler and a management agency for effective recycling. The simultaneous application of
these three documents is necessary to ensure the complete and efficient recycling of valuable REEs.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22450:2020(E)
Recycling of rare earth elements — Requirements for
providing information on industrial waste and end-of-life
products
1 Scope
This document specifies the recycling information to be provided for rare earth elements (REEs) in
industrial waste and end-of-life (EOL) products from manufacturers/producers to recyclers. It includes
a classification system and forms for providing the recycling information.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 21067-1, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
ISO 22444-1, Rare earth — Vocabulary — Part 1: Minerals, oxides and other compounds
ISO 22444-2, Rare earth
...