Process for recovery of yttrium and europium from lamp phosphor waste

摘要

This invention is related to the recycling of rare earths, and more particularly to the recovery of rare earths such as yttrium and europium from end-of-life fluorescent lamps. A new process is described to selectively recover the most valuable components of waste lamp phosphor powder. By means of an ionic liquid, the red phosphor Y2O3:Eu3+ (YOX) can be selectively dissolved without affecting the other components in the waste fraction. Of particular interest is the possibility to dissolve Y2O3:Eu3+ (YOX) without bringing the halophosphate phosphor in solution.