Technology recovers indium from LCD panels

摘要

A research group from Japan's Tohoku University has developed, in conjunction with Daitoku Corp, a process for the recovery of indium in the form of indium oxide (In_2O_3) directly from used liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, by reduction, without heating; the process is based on the mechanochemical reaction by grinding operation. The research group was led by Junya Kano of the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials. In the recovery process, In_2O_3 extracted from the used panels with chemicals like hydrochloric acid is ground in a ball mill with silicon-containing materials, such as waste wafers, to obtain indium powder.