Methodology of Metal Criticality Determination

Abstract

A comprehensive methodology has been created to quantify the degree of criticality of the metals of the periodic table. In this paper, we present and discuss the methodology, which is comprised of three dimensions: supply risk, environmental implications, and vulnerability to supply restriction. Supply risk differs with the time scale (medium or long), and at its more complex involves several components, themselves composed of a number of distinct indicators drawn from readily available peer-reviewed indexes and public information. Vulnerability to supply restriction differs with the organizational level (i.e., global, national, and corporate). The criticality methodology, an enhancement of a United States National Research Council template, is designed to help corporate, national, and global stakeholders conduct risk evaluation and to inform resource utilization and strategic decision-making. Although we believe our methodological choices lead to the most robust results, the framework has been constructed to permit flexibility by the user. Specific indicators can be deleted or added as desired and weighted as the user deems appropriate. The value of each indicator will evolve over time, and our future research will focus on this evolution. The methodology has proven to be sufficiently robust as to make it applicable across the entire spectrum of metals and organizational levels and provides a structural approach that reflects the multifaceted factors influencing the availability of metals in the 21st century.

Towards a dynamic assessment of raw materials criticality: Linking agent-based demand — With material flow supply modelling approaches

“…Addressee: With the exception of Graedel et al (2012), current approaches assessed the criticality of metals for whole industrial sectors or countries. The approach proposed here focuses on single industries or even companies.…”

“…Graedel et al (2012) have developed a methodology which extends the criticality matrix applied in the NRC study (NRC, 2008) by an environmental dimension based on available cradle to gate life cycle inventory data for the evaluated metals from the ecoinvent database (Hischier et al, 2010). Doing so, they separate supply restrictions due to regulatory measures, which is covered in the supply risk, from the environmental implications of utilizing particular metals, allowing for an independent assessment of environmental issues from other criticality aspect.…”

“…Doing so, they separate supply restrictions due to regulatory measures, which is covered in the supply risk, from the environmental implications of utilizing particular metals, allowing for an independent assessment of environmental issues from other criticality aspect. As mentioned by Graedel et al (2012) such accounting of environmental implications provides a snapshot in time, and environmental impacts might change with increasing demand that leads to the exploitation of lower ore grades and additional pressure on ecosystems. Furthermore, environmental impacts might appear with different probabilities and therefore have varying risk implications.…”

A geopolítica das terras raras

“…Alguns trabalhos de pesquisa têm buscado avaliar a possibilidade de redução do fluxo de suprimento de determinadas matérias-primas, bem como o impacto econômico que choques de oferta podem provocar (MAYER;GLEICH, 2015;NASSAR et al, 2012;SIEVERS, 2011;TERCERO ESPINOZA;GRAEDEL et al, 2012;HATCH, 2011). O conceito de criticidade de matéria-prima apareceu pela primeira vez em 1939 (MAYER; GLEICH, 2015), no documento Material Stock Piling Act, cuja intenção era regular o acesso a certas matérias-primas relevantes para a indústria militar.…”

Addressing Rare-Earth Element Criticality: An Example from the Aviation Industry

“…Their importance to industry has led several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the European Union, and some private companies, to classify them as ''critical'' materials. [1][2][3][4] This designation is applied to important raw materials where concerns exist about the supply. In the case of rareearth elements, this supply risk comes from the recent concentration of the supply chain in China and was most acutely felt during a pricing bubble in 2011.…”