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Frontiers in Energy

ISSN 2095-1701

ISSN 2095-1698(Online)

CN 11-6017/TK

Postal Subscription Code 80-972

2018 Impact Factor: 1.701

Front. Energy    2023, Vol. 17 Issue (2) : 286-293    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-022-0823-y
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Evaluation of global niobium flow modeling and its market forecasting
Mahmoud BAKRY, Jinhui LI, Xianlai ZENG()
School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Abstract

Metal, as the indispensable material, is functioning the society from technology to the environment. Niobium (Nb) is considered a unique earth metal as it is related to many emerging technologies. The increasing economic growth exerts an increasing pressure on supply, which leads to its significance in the economic sector. However, few papers have addressed Nb sustainability, which forms the scope of this paper in order to start the process of Nb market forecasting based on some previous data and some assumptions. Therefore, this paper will discuss different thoughts in material substitution and the substance flow of Nb throughout a static flow using Nb global data to have a better understanding of the process of Nb from production to end of life. This shall lead to the identification of the market needs to determine its growth which is around 2.5% to 3.0%. Moreover, due to China’s huge Nb consumption which comes from the continuous development that is happening over the years, it will also briefly mention the Nb situation as well as its growth which according to statistics will grow steadily till 2030 by a rate of 4.0% to 6.0%. The results show that there should be some enhancement to Nb recycling potentials out of steel scrap. In addition, there should be more involvement of Nb in different industries as this would lead to less-used materials which can be translated to less environmental impact.

Keywords niobium (Nb)      sustainability      substance flow analysis      recycling      industrial ecology     
Corresponding Author(s): Xianlai ZENG   
Online First Date: 29 March 2022    Issue Date: 29 May 2023
 Cite this article:   
Mahmoud BAKRY,Jinhui LI,Xianlai ZENG. Evaluation of global niobium flow modeling and its market forecasting[J]. Front. Energy, 2023, 17(2): 286-293.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-022-0823-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2023/V17/I2/286
Fig.1  Nb production and market in recent years.
Fig.2  Flow modeling of Nb stages.
Fig.3  Global substance flow analysis for Nb in 2019 (Data source from Refs. [11,13]).
Fig.4  FeNb importation and exportation in China.
Fig.5  Nb and FeNb global growth.
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