2023.07.06
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Special feature : Securing the future of our limited metal resorces vol.2
Recycling used products into metal resources
Many of the products around us contain a number of valuable metals. Rather than discarding these used products, we extract the metals and reuse them as resources. This process of metal resource recycling utilizes the technologies and experience of Mitsubishi Materials.
E-Scrap
The discarded circuit boards from electron- ic devices such as notebook PCs are called “E-Scrap” and contain large amounts of valu- able metals such as copper, gold, silver, and palladium. E-Scrap is attracting attention as a valuable source of smelting raw materials.
Examples of typical metal resources
Home appliances
Televisions / Air conditioners / Refrigerators and freezers / Washing machines and clothes dryers
Discarded home appliances undergo manual or mechanical dismantling, crushing, and sorting processes. Valuable metals are recovered from television circuit boards, air conditioner heat exchangers, and other components, and then recycled.
Examples of typical metal resources
Automobiles
Rare earths and copper can be recovered from automobile motors. Rare earths are a type of rare metal that is produced in small quantities and is difficult to extract. They are essential materials in the manufacturing of smartphones and automobiles.
Typical metal resources that Mitsubishi Materials recycles
Planning of a LIB recycling business is underway
The growing adoption of EVs and hybrid vehicles in the automotive industry has led to an increased demand for LIBs. However, there are concerns about the future availability of rare metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which are crucial components of LIBs. Mitsubishi Materials is working on technology to recover and refine lithium, nickel, and cobalt from the black mass generated during the LIB recycling process.
Cutting tools
The cutting tools used in the machining of automobile and aircraft parts are made from ultra-hard materials primarily composed of tungsten carbide. Mitsubishi Materials is involved in the manufacturing and sale of these cutting tools. Additionally, we recover and recycle used cutting tools to produce new cutting tools from recycled materials.
