Page 8 from: September 2015

8 September 2015

N E W S

Major success with
Dutch anti-copper
theft campaign

According to Dutch railway com-
pany ProRail, the number of copper theft
incidents in the Netherlands fell ‘drasti-
cally’ in the first half of this year when
compared to the same period in 2014,
with a total of 54 cases reported versus
130 last year.
A nationwide crackdown on copper
theft helped to yield a 57% drop in inci-
dents involving railway materials. Infra-
red camera surveillance, night-time
security checks with guard dogs and
additional security gates are cited as the
main factors in keeping thieves at bay.
In another measure, a large quantity of
copper has been treated with synthet-
ic DNA to enable local authorities to

identify its origin. ‘While copper is the
best conductor of electricity, we have
opted to substitute copper parts with
aluminium parts wherever possible,’
ProRail also notes. For the thieves, it
adds, ‘aluminium fetches a much lower
price’.
The Dutch Ministry of Justice argues that
mandatory identification at scrap yards
as well as increased penalties for steal-
ing scrap metal have also helped to turn
the tide on metal theft. However, copper
theft is still happening: in the most
recent Dutch case, a family-owned recy-
cling company in Culemborg was robbed
of 4.1 tonnes of scrap worth more than
Euro 10 000. www.prorail.nl

US licensing of new
rare earth recycling
approach
A new rare earth recycling technol-
ogy developed by the US Department of
Energy’s Critical Materials Institute
(CMI) has been licensed to US Rare
Earths, Inc. The membrane solvent
extraction system is said to be the first
commercially licensed technology devel-
oped through the CMI.
The innovative technology, invented by
CMI partners Oak Ridge and Idaho
National Laboratory, uses a combination
of hollow fibre membranes, organic sol-
vents and neutral extractants to ‘selec-
tively recover’ up to 90% rare earths.
Lab tests indicate a high success rate for
recovering a ‘highly pure form’ of neo-
dymium, dysprosium and praseodymium
from scrap magnets.
CMI director Alex King credits close col-
laboration with industry as key to mak-
ing technology transfer happen ‘well
ahead of traditional time frames’. He
adds: ‘Going from an idea to a licensed
technology in just two years is exactly
what CMI is intended to do, and we’ve
proven we can do it.’
The recycling of critical materials from
e-scrap was previously limited by pro-
cessing technologies that are inefficient,
costly and environmentally hazardous,
notes Ramesh Bhave, who led the recy-

cling R&D project. The team’s new and
simplified process eliminates many of
these barriers, he points out.
‘Our single-step process to recover rare
earth elements from scrap magnets is
more environmentally friendly and has
the potential to be a more cost-effective
approach compared to conventional
routes such as precipitation,’ Bhave
states.
The recycling of electronic waste will
provide a ‘competitive source’ of neo-
dymium, dysprosium and praseodymium
for growing the clean tech sector –
including electric vehicles, according to
Kevin Cassidy, ceo of US Rare Earths, Inc.
www.ornl.gov

‘Major shortage’ of scrap in Ukraine
The Federation of Metal Manufac-
turers of Ukraine has written to the
government asking it to ‘revise’ ferrous
scrap export limits in the second half of
2015, the Kyiv Post has reported. In its
letter, the trade association refers to ‘a
major shortage’ of scrap metal on the
Ukrainian market.
The federation has reached out to eco-
nomic development and trade minister
Aivaras Abromavicius, warning of a
‘threat’ of stoppages at some mining
and metal companies.
An estimated 32 million tonnes of steel
is produced in Ukraine on an annual

basis, although ongoing unrest in the
country saw this drop to 27 million
tonnes last year. In January-June this
year, Ukraine exported US$ 4.296 billion
worth of ferrous metals – a 41% drop
year on year, according to State Fiscal
Services of Ukraine. Imports, on the
other hand, fell by roughly 51%.
The country’s non-ferrous imports and
exports were also down during the same
period. For example, the value of alu-
minium imports totalled US$ 124.48
million (down 30.6%) while exports
were at US$ 59.42 million (down 7%)
www.metalukraine.com

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