Research News
Mobile phones contain many metalliferous raw materials. The German Ministry of Education and Reasearch now funds their reclamation. Photo: Buero Quer
Further information:
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf Press release (in German)
Raw Materials from Mobile Phones
Rare metals are used in many hightech products such as mobile phones. Since only small amounts are required while at the same time being of particular importance, these are called also strategic metals. Their reclamation from discarded products is often quite difficult. They are well hidden and their extraction requires a lot of effort. The funding instrument "r³ - Innovative Technologies for Resource Efficiency" of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports scientists in developing methods for the reclamation of strategic metals and minerals. The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology has a co-ordinating function in a part-project within this instrument: extracting rare raw materials from mine dumps and slag heaps.
