Dive Brief:

• Scientists in Belgium devised a new process that is capable of effectively recycling rare earth metals from old fluorescent and energy-saving lightbulbs.
• Technology made it possible for europium and yttrium to be used again in red lamp phosphor, a substance often used in TV screens and in fluorescent tubes.
• Previously, these rare earth elements found in the tubes were generally not reused due to the complex method necessary to extract the precious metals.

Dive Insight:

The new process makes the recycling of these rare earth metals possible. The retrieved substances are able to be used again, and the process used to obtain the metals uses less chemicals and energy that other extraction methods.