Japanese Consortium Starts Rare Earth Recovery from Fluorescent Tube

Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan announced on Tuesday the Prefecture starts the business to recover rare earths from used fluorescent tubes within fiscal 2011 ending in March 2012 in cooperation with Mitsui Mining & Smelting, Nippon Yttrium, Japan Recycling Light Technology & System (J-Relights) and Kyusyu University. This is the first business model in Japan to recycle rare earths from fluorescent powder inside used fluorescent tubes.

Rare earth recovery volume is expected to total 57 tonnes per year if all used fluorescent tubes in Kyusyu region are collected and recycled. This volume of rare earths is equivalent to approximately 2.5 billion yen. They aim the business model establishment early when rare earth import price is steeply rising and stable rare earth supply is strongly required in Japan.

Fluorescent powder contains yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, terbium and europium. The powder is used at 2-5 grams per fluorescent tube while 70% of the powder is consisted of rare earths. Rare earths can be extracted and recovered by condensation and refinement of the powder.

J-Relights and Fukuoka Research Center for Recycling Systems collect fluorescent powder from used fluorescent tubes. Mitsui Mining & Smelting and Nippon Yttrium recover and refine rare earths, and then supply recovered rare earths to market. Along with the business, Kyusyu University and Fukuoka Research Center for Recycling Systems cooperate in a research to upgrade fluorescent powder.