| Summary: | 博士 === 國立臺北科技大學 === 環境工程與管理研究所 === 105 === Rare precious metals are widely used in industrial processes. However, industries cannot recycle them due to the market lacks information on the material flow of rare precious metals. In addition as far as the management of precious resources is concerned, the government provides information only on raw materials and the import/export of products. Thus, the industries cannot make any decision on the recovery of rare precious metals. In order to solve this problem, this research used the material flow analytical method in 2011 (indium/neodymium), 2013 (tungsten/tantalum), and 2014 (cobalt/platinum) to investigate and analyze the material flow for Taiwan rare precious metals including raw materials, semi-finished end materials, product end, and waste end. Through Taiwan rare precious metal flow analysis, key points and recommendations for future waste recycling and reuse would be proposed.
Information was obtained from the government, importer of rare precious metals, and waste clearance and disposal organizations. In Taiwan, the import data each year are as follows: 265.7 ton of indium, 1435 ton of neodymium, 1923 ton of tungsten, 380 ton of tantalum, 812 ton of cobalt, and 13 ton of platinum. The recycle data are as follows: 108.5 ton of indium, 142 ton of tungsten, 74 ton of cobalt, and 881 kg of platinum; the surplus is discarded in domestic garbage and destroyed in refuse incineration plants. If each metal could be recycled more effectively, the number of days of storage and usage for each supply would be 42 for indium, 42 for neodymium, 25 for tungsten, 18 for tantalum, 23 for cobalt, and 25 for platinum. To enhance the demand for Taiwan’s strategic resources and stabilize the supply of rare precious metals to high-tech industries, the researchers in Taiwan should develop the innovative recycling technology of rare precious resources and. Industries could then promote recycling rare precious metals and create opportunities for industrial developments.
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