Tantalum Recycling, a global recycling company that focuses on reclaiming and recycling capacitor-grade tantalum (Ta) material for reuse by capacitor manufacturers, has expanded its capabilities with more than $1 million in chemical processing improvements.
The company says electronics recyclers (e-cyclers), materials purchasers, recycling equipment manufacturers, and environmental officials in the recycling industry can help conserve the limited global supply of tantalum by turning the used tantalum capacitors in the e-waste stream into cash.
Tantalum is a rare metal element used in the manufacturing of capacitors, which are found in virtually all types of consumer electronics. Based on current extraction rates, it has been estimated that there is less than 50 years of raw tantalum material remaining on the planet.
Additionally, since capacitor-grade tantalum material is classified as a conflict mineral due to the fact that tantalum powder is primarily mined in unstable regions of the world (e.g., central Africa), it is subject to strict international industry regulations governing its procurement and use in the electronics supply chain.
As one of the few companies in the world with the ability to procure, recycle, and process tantalum capacitors completely in-house, Tantalum Recycling, a certified conflict-free trader of this critical material, provides the global electronics industry — spanning OEMs, distributors, contract manufacturers, and e-cyclers — with a profitable way to offload obsolete tantalum capacitors, chemically pure tantalum scrap, and the tantalum powder and wire scrap created during the capacitor manufacturing process, as well as with a reliable source of verified conflict-free tantalum capacitor powder, tantalum carbide powder, and tantalum-capacitor-grade metal wire.
Expanding its operations will allow Tantalum Recycling to process the tantalum capacitors and scrap that we collect from e-cyclers more quickly and efficiently, which will help ensure a future supply of tantalum for the electronics industry, the company says.