27 September 2012
Details
Solvay
is officially opening
two new Rare Earths recycling units in France
to diverify the sources of supply and preserve resources
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
Background of Rare Earths Activity
* Solvay Group has developed for recovering rare earths
contained in end-of-life equipment such as
1. Low-energy light bulbs
2. Batteries or
3. Magnets
* The original recycling channel derived from
the Group's research program opens up
new growth opportunities for
" Solvay's Rare Earths " activities.
* First launched in 2007, this project
required two years of research and development
followed by two years of industrialization studies
and site selection.
* The investment was initially approved in 2011
* The Group decided to focus initally on low-energy light bulbs
because the recovery channel already exists.
* The light bulbs are rich in 6 different Rare Earths
1. Lanthanum
2. Cerium
3. Terbium
4. Yttrium
5. Europium
6. Gadolinium
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About Recycling steps
* Used light bulbs are collected, sorted and processed
by specialized companies who recycle their different components
(glass, metal, plastics, mercury)
The luminescent powders are shipped to the Group's facilities
* to Saint-Fons (Rhone Alpes, France) first of all,
where the Rare Earths concentrate is extracted and subsequently
* to La Rochelle (Charente Maritime, France),
a plant that boasts unique expertise in separation technology
unparalleled in Europe.
* Once the Rare Earths have been separated,
they are then reformulated into luminescent precursors
that will be reused in the manufacture of new lamps
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About Rare Earths
* Used in small quantity, Rare Earths play the role of
" Vitamins" vital for the continuing development of
new technologies, especially green technologies.
* Global demand for Rare Earths is growing
more than 6 % per year, making these elements
a strategic raw material.
Solvay
* Solvay aim to become the benchmark european player
in these area.
* The launch of Rare Earths recycling units
illustrates tangible contribution as a chemical manufacturer
to sustainable development.
* A world leader in Rare Earths formulations, Solvay develops
a large number of innovations used in everyday applications
1.Flat screens
2.Low energy light bulbs
3.Automotive pollution controls
4.High precision optics
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