Recovery of silica-free tantalum from epoxy-coated tantalum capacitors using hydrometallurgical routes

Optimization of Selective Hydrometallurgical Tantalum Recovery from E-Waste Using Zeolites

“…However, research has already been conducted on the recycling and recovery of tantalum capacitors. Various methods have been explored to remove components from PCBs, including chemical dissolution, manual and automated mechanical picking, and laser integration into automated processes to melt component solders. − For the removal of the resin part of capacitors extracted from PCBs and the exposure of tantalum cores, mechanical treatment, pyrolysis, − and supercritical water treatment have been applied. In tantalum refining, various organic solvents such as MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) and TBP (tributyl phosphate) have been used, but the use of TSILs (task-specific ionic liquids) has been proposed as an environmentally friendly alternative. − Current studies involving tantalum recovery from e-waste using ion exchange resins or similar materials such as zeolites seem very scarce or close to nonexistent based on literature search.…”

“…Various methods have been explored to remove components from PCBs, including chemical dissolution, 12 manual and automated mechanical picking, 13 and laser integration into automated processes to melt component solders. 14 − 16 For the removal of the resin part of capacitors extracted from PCBs and the exposure of tantalum cores, mechanical treatment, 17 pyrolysis, 18 − 20 and supercritical water treatment 21 have been applied. In tantalum refining, various organic solvents such as MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) and TBP (tributyl phosphate) have been used, but the use of TSILs (task-specific ionic liquids) has been proposed as an environmentally friendly alternative.…”

Extraction and Recovery of Tantalum from Capacitors Using Conventional Separation Methods Assisted by Thermal Plasma

“…11 Some reviews describe other methods to avoid the use of mineral acids or bases and to reduce the environmental impact of tantalum recovery. 2,7,10 For example, Lena Spitczok von Brisinski et al 12 used ionic liquids to dissolve and extract tantalum from through-hole capacitors. The recovery of Ta is about 70 %, but the other metals contained in the capacitors are lost and the purity of tantalum is low.…”

“…It may be possible to use the current production line for Ta and adapt it to reprocess electronic waste. As reported by L. M. Martelo et al or by M. Agrawal et al , the commonly used hydrometallurgy for extracting tantalum from ores is multi-step process with long residence times, using highly corrosive mineral acids or bases such as HNO 3 , HCl, HF, or KOH or NaOH, and generating waste water, hazardous gases and other effluents to be depolluted and recycled. The use of hydrometallurgy makes it possible, after various separation and purification stages, to obtain Ta 2 O 5 with high yields of 98% and high purity over 99.9% .…”

“…The use of hydrometallurgy makes it possible, after various separation and purification stages, to obtain Ta 2 O 5 with high yields of 98% and high purity over 99.9% . Some reviews describe other methods to avoid the use of mineral acids or bases and to reduce the environmental impact of tantalum recovery. ,, For example, Lena Spitczok von Brisinski et al . used ionic liquids to dissolve and extract tantalum from through-hole capacitors.…”