The present invention concerns the field of safe disposal or recycling of devices which include flat panel displays (FPDs) such as televisions, public information screens and signs, advertising panels, computer monitors and lap-tops, tablets and computers with integrated flat panel displays. The invention provides an apparatus for the disassembly of flat panel display units (FPDs) which each comprise a display screen provided on the front face of the FPD and a housing which accommodates the screen and associated electronic circuitry, the apparatus comprising: (i) a cutting station for receiving an end-of-life FPD, the cutting station being configured and arranged to make cuts into the FPD along cutting paths which permit detachment of the entire display screen, or a cut-out sub-unit of the display screen, from the FPD, (ii) an FPD characterisation station provided in advance of, or at, the cutting station, the characterisation station being adapted to measure and/or log one or more characterising parameters or identifiers of the FPD in advance of the cutting step, (iii) a data processing system in data communication with the FPD characterisation station, the data processing system being adapted to receive and one or more of said parameters or identifiers, and derive therefrom an appropriate protocol for cutting the FPD display screen, and provide instructions in accordance with the protocol which are sent back to the cutting station so as to control the cuts. An FPD database may be associated with the data processing system, the FPD database being pre-loaded with cutting path instructions for a range of known FPDs.

Xenon is contained within articles of manufacture such as light bulbs. Described herein are an apparatus, system, a method to capture and collect the xenon contained in articles of manufacture such as defective light bulbs for recovery and/or reuse.

Xenon is contained within articles of manufacture such as light bulbs. Described herein are an apparatus, system, a method to capture and collect the xenon contained in articles of manufacture such as defective light bulbs for recovery and/or reuse.

A process for separating rare earth elements (REE) from Ca, Mg and other non-REE elements comprises raising the pH of an acidic aqueous solution of REE to pH 8 to pH 11; adding nano- or micro (NoM) particles having a silica or titanium oxide surface; agitating the suspension for 6 h to 48 h to provide for adherent crystallization of REE hydroxide on the particles; separating the particles from the solution; releasing REE by treatment with aqueous acid to form an aqueous solution of REE salt; separating them from the aqueous solution of REE salt formed. The acidic aqueous solution comprising REE is preferably provided by leaching of an REE mineral with aqueous acid; adding a base to bring the pH to from pH 4.0 to pH 6.5; separating precipitated non-REE hydroxide from the solution.

A process for separating rare earth elements (REE) from Ca, Mg and other non-REE elements comprises raising the pH of an acidic aqueous solution of REE to pH 8 to pH 11; adding nano- or micro (NoM) particles having a silica or titanium oxide surface; agitating the suspension for 6 h to 48 h to provide for adherent crystallization of REE hydroxide on the particles; separating the particles from the solution; releasing REE by treatment with aqueous acid to form an aqueous solution of REE salt; separating them from the aqueous solution of REE salt formed. The acidic aqueous solution comprising REE is preferably provided by leaching of an REE mineral with aqueous acid; adding a base to bring the pH to from pH 4.0 to pH 6.5; separating precipitated non-REE hydroxide from the solution.

A workstation for disassembling a control panel having a first side and a second side is disclosed. The workstation may include a fixture mounted to the workstation that receives the control panel to be disassembled. The workstation may further include at least two wedging tools that enter the control panel at two locations between the first and second sides of the control panel. In addition, the workstation may include at least two driving members that engage and edge of the first side at two locations and apply a force to the edge sufficient to separate the first side from the second side.

The present invention relates to a waste fluorescent light end-cutting device. The waste fluorescent light end-cutting device includes a conveyor transferring a waste fluorescent light, a heating wire disposed on each of both sides of the conveyor, a cooling wire subsequently disposed on a rear side of the heating wire, and a suction duct disposed between the cooling wire and the heating wire. A base cap is separated from the waste fluorescent light by using a temperature difference between the heating wire and the cooling wire.

The present invention relates to a waste fluorescent light end-cutting device. The waste fluorescent light end-cutting device includes a conveyor transferring a waste fluorescent light, a heating wire disposed on each of both sides of the conveyor, a cooling wire subsequently disposed on a rear side of the heating wire, and a suction duct disposed between the cooling wire and the heating wire. A base cap is separated from the waste fluorescent light by using a temperature difference between the heating wire and the cooling wire.