About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Rare Metal Extraction & Processing
|
| Presentation Title |
Recovery of Tantalum from Tantalum Capacitors of Printed Circuit Boards: A Review |
| Author(s) |
Subrat Shekhar, Rekha Panda, Rukshana Parween, Ankur Sharma, Manis Kumar Jha |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Subrat Shekhar |
| Abstract Scope |
Tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), used in solid-state capacitors of printed circuit boards (PCBs), is a critical metal/ material essential for miniaturized electronics. Due to limited global reserves and geopolitical risks, recycling tantalum from electronic waste is gaining importance. This review explores current and emerging techniques for recovering tantalum oxide from scrap tantalum capacitors. Pyrometallurgical methods like plasma and chlorination offer high-purity outputs but are energy-intensive and expensive. Hydrometallurgical approaches, especially those using hydrofluoric acid, provide excellent selectivity but pose environmental hazards. To address these issues, integrated pyro-hydrometallurgical flowsheets are gaining attention. Processes such as pyrolysis followed by acid leaching or chlorination have demonstrated high efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The review also highlights innovative methods like microwave-assisted reduction and zeolite-based purification as future pathways. Overall, the paper emphasizes that a combination of advanced processing technologies and improved e-waste sorting systems is key to achieving sustainable tantalum recovery from discarded electronics. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Hydrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing, Recycling and Secondary Recovery |