Industrial demand and integrated material flow of terbium in Korea

Abstract

The integrated material flow analysis methodology uses bottom-up flow analysis for primary and secondary resources and top-down flow analysis for the distribution structure. By combining the advantages of the top-down and bottom-up methods, the integrated material flow analysis Methodology can overcome the limitations of each method. Using the IMFAM, this study investigated the material flow of terbium in 2011, in Korea. Terbium was used to produce 3-wevelength fluorescent lamps, liquid crystal display back light unit, plasma display panel and so on. 7,239 kg of terbium was required to produce the intermediate product in Korea. Among total terbium used to produce intermediate products, 2,592 kg the part of the fluorescent lamp, 4,984 kg the part of flat panel display, which were used, 107 kg, was exported and 46 was put in collect stage. In the part of the 3-wevelength fluorescent lamp, terbium's use was expected to gradually increase for needs of consumers. But in the part of flat panel display, terbium's use is expected to gradually decrease. The use of terbium is expected to decrease in others. This MFA results represent the materials flow of terbium in Korea and can be used to predict demand through investigations on the demand industry. © KSPE and Springer 2014.