Open Access Conference Proceedings

From year to year the demand for rare earth metals is constantly growing. Majority of these metals find application in permanent magnets, lamp phosphors, catalyst and rechargeable batteries. The production of such metals in 2016 was 126 000 tones and China was the leading producer (84%). In the last years China limited the supplies of these products; therefore it is really important to be more absorbed in recycling of spent products containing rare earth metals. Today the researchers focus on recycling of rare earth metals from their three applications: permanent magnets, nickel metal hydride batteries and lamp phosphors. The article presents review of available methods of recovery the rare earth metals but only from the fluorescent lamps (monochrome and trichromatic phosphors – red, blue and green). Mentioned methods based mainly on hydrometallurgical processes such as leaching and pyrometallurgical methods like alkali fusion; purification approaches were also shortly discussed.

Keywords: Fluorescent lamp, rare earth metals, recovery, recycling of spent products.

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