Ecological innovation plays a crucial role in the transition to a circular and environmentally friendly economy. Today, a promising method is emerging to extract europium, a rare metal used in green technologies, from waste. This advancement could not only help reduce dependence on non-renewable resources but also limit the environmental impact of our industrial activities.
A Nature-Inspired Advancement
Researchers at ETH are developing a nature-inspired technique to efficiently recover europium from obsolete fluorescent lamps. This method could pave the way for the long-awaited recycling of rare metals. The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Rare Metals: Crucial Resources
Rare metals are essential to the modern economy. They are involved in the manufacturing of computers, smartphones, screens, and batteries, as well as in wind turbines and electric motors. In Europe, these materials mainly depend on imports from China, making this resource critical.
An Ecological Separation Process
Currently, traditional separation techniques require numerous liquid extraction steps and are highly consumptive of chemicals and energy. These methods are costly, time-consuming, and harmful to the environment.
The Contribution of Tetrathiomethalates
Tetrathiomethalates, inorganic compounds with four sulfur atoms around tungsten or molybdenum, are at the heart of this innovation. Inspired by proteins, researchers use these compounds as binding agents for rare metals. This approach allows for converting europium to a rare divalent state, thereby simplifying its separation.
Keeping Europium in Circulation
A significant but underutilized source of rare metals is electronic waste. If this source is exploited, the lamp waste that Switzerland ships abroad for landfilling could be recycled locally, transforming waste into a true urban mine.
- Valorization of electronic waste
- Reduction of dependence on imports
Reducing Demand
It is crucial to recover rare metals at the end of product life to keep them available. In Europe, the recovery rate of rare earth elements is still below 1%. Therefore, researchers prioritize the recycling of raw materials in their approach, which is more ecological and financially viable.
Relevant List: Ecological Innovation
| Benefits | Challenges |
| Reduction of environmental footprint | Complexity of the separation process |
| Valorization of electronic waste | Technological dependence on specific compounds |
