Rare Metals and Possibility for Recycling

Rare metal resources remain after their utilization, which are different from energy resources. We have a lot of industrial wastes, that is, urban mine in Japan. It is important to recycle valuable rare metals from the industrial wastes by applying suitable separation technologies. The contents of rare metals are usually higher than those of natural resources. They could be used without mining from the ground, though it is necessary to collect a certain amount. The importance of rare metal recycling is discussed here from the various aspects.