Based on the dynamic material flow analysis method, this study takes 1990-2018 as the time boundary and mainland China as the spatial boundary to analyze the whole life cycle flow of praseodymium. It is found that 1) from 1990 to 2018, China mined more than 100000 t of praseodymium for downstream industrial applications, about 70% of which (68500 t of praseodymium) were used in NdFeB; 2) before 2009, China's praseodymium supply was sufficient (31000 t of unregistered consumption), and after 2009 the supply gap of praseodymium increased year by year (24000 t of unregistered production); 3) both import and export volumes of praseodymium increased, with import being mainly intermediate product of rare earth ores and praseodymium while export mainly intermediate product and final product of praseodymium; and 4) in 2018 the in-use stock of praseodymium exceeded 37000 t, of which 23% were in air conditioners, electroacoustic headphones and magnetic separators, with insufficient recycling. To resolve the problem between supply and demand this study put forward some suggestions, such as improving recycling capacity and technology of praseodymium, optimizing the structure of praseodymium trade, increasing the import of ore and primary products, properly controling export, and exploring NdFeB permanent magnet substitute products.

praseodymium  /  material flow analysis  /  neodymium iron boron  /  rare earth  /  industrial ecology