Recently, scientists are trying to find innovative ways to recycle metals from waste through a process known as mechanochemistry technology. Mechanochemistry focuses on the chemical and physicochemical changes induced by mechanical energy during aggregation. Milling, grinding, scratching, polishing, shearing, and rapid friction provides the mechanical energy used by this method. Due to the fact that metals are excavated from earth through mining, recycling metals is crucial for the preservation of natural resources, reduction of emission, and could even help us save money! For "base metals" such as iron, aluminum, zinc, copper etc, it is much more easier to separate them from waste than "rare metals" such as indium and lithium. The mechanochemical method has demonstrated to increase this process by allowing "rare metals" to be leached out from wastes at a much faster and efficient rate. Lets take indium recycling from Indium Oxide or tindoped indium oxide, commonly used in electronics, containing waste as an example. In a study conducted through the process of mechanochemistry, they were able to obtain a yield of 35% more than the yield of a method not using the mechanochemistry method. Overall, it has demonstrated to show a promising look towards the future of recycling.
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