Rare electronics recycling is being developed

Rare in smart phones, battery, and hard drives and other electronic devices in the application is known , but the utilization of rare earth metals in a loop but few developers . This will not only reduce the e-waste emissions and can ease the crisis in the supply of these metals , while the end user is no longer a resource depletion or too costly to worry .

Last week, specializing in hazardous waste disposal VeoliaES Massachusetts company opened a new plant in the state , according to "WMW" ( Waste Management World ) article reported that the company working with partners from the fluorescent powder recovery of rare earth elements. Containing rare earth fluorescent powder is a mixture , which is usually used in video screen displays and fluorescent lamps inside .

Factories operated by the VeoliaES have fluorescent, ballasts, batteries, computers, electronic products and mercury-containing waste recycling equipment . Based on "WMW" said, this plant is almost one hundred percent recycled fluorescent in earth, and to prevent harmful to the environment and waste mercury into circulation .

Meanwhile, Belgian researchers found that can be recovered by the wet extraction of neodymium magnets and samarium elements inside .

"This process involves from neodymium and samarium cobalt magnets rare earth elements and other elements in the wet extracted ." Lead researcher Koen Binnemans on " Chemical World " said. "The other elements - including iron, cobalt , manganese , copper and zinc - liquid , and rare earth metal is showing the water phase" ion solution can also be recycled.

Another method , allegedly Ames method , a molten magnesium separated from the rare earth magnets , permanent magnets are crushed into small pieces of metal dissolved in the liquid , the evaporated magnesium is boiled only rare earth elements.

However, it was questioned calls need to do a lot of profitable e-waste . 2010 New York Times article mentioned in the Japanese and holding company with a recycling plant to refine rare earths, the computer chips crushed to 2 cm after melting at 1400 degrees Celsius . This plant process 300 tonnes of waste a day but only outputs 150 grams of rare earth metals .
" Chemical World " quoted Binnemans argument, although less than 1% of the rare earth elements are recycled , 20% of global demand can thus met.

" Recycling is only partially solve the supply problem , not replace ore production, only as a supplement ," he said through an integrated loop ore production and use , from the Western countries, the future may be largely dependent on Chinese supplies .

However, this seems too optimistic , given to about 95 percent by the Chinese supply of rare earth elements , some of the rare earth consumers through the loop by reducing raw material costs, reduce dependence on foreign resources . Several large car manufacturers have declared the use of rare earth loop plan , and the need to reduce vehicle production of the rare earths used.

Honda has developed a new hybrid car from used nickel metal hydride batteries in the recycling of rare earth first step. Based on Honda's argument, this method can be extracted from the waste batteries in 80% of the rare earths, 99 % purity , can reach the level of ore processed . Honda declare their goal is not only from the battery in refining rare earth metals, and other components from the production line is also extracted .

Other car manufacturers are also trying to reduce the amount of rare earths . 2012 Toyota declare that they have developed a need to use rare earth production of hybrid cars approach. GM also confirmed dysprosium element in reducing engine technology has been used in an amount close to a breakthrough. Ford has stated that they will use lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-metal hydride batteries, the move will make the company spend on earth annually by 50 million pounds.

Although rare earth loop from the terminal application use and reduce demand for rare earths is a worrying trend , but the fact is that the use of rare earth loops , especially for the electronics industry , it is still the initial stage, but also in the foreseeable future unlikely to significantly cut demand . Either way, the end user to use the new technologies in order to reduce costs to improve profit margins , investors will still be wise to keep the use of rare earth loop aspects of development .


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