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Mitsubishi Materials Corporation has started joint research with Emulsion Flow Technologies Ltd. (EFT), a venture that originated from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), on metal recycling technology using the "emulsion-flow technique," which is an advanced solvent extraction method.

Solvent extraction is a technique for selectively extracting a target component by utilizing the distribution of substances between two immiscible liquids such as water and oil, and is used to separate and extract metal components with high accuracy.

Emulsion-flow is a solvent extraction method that is an innovative technique allowing high-efficiency extraction and significant reduction of environmental impact through the devising of an appropriate mixing state of liquids. As compared with conventional solvent extraction methods, it features ease of size reduction of equipment and automation of control, low running costs, odorless working environment thanks to the sealed structure of the equipment, and high oil/water separation ability offering reduced environmental impact.

In this joint research, we will work on the optimization of conditions making use of these characteristics of the emulsion-flow technique, process design, and equipment development to build a recycling process with high efficiency and low environmental impact with a view to commercialization.

The vision of the Mitsubishi Materials Group is to "become the leading business group committed to creating a sustainable world through materials innovation, with use of our unique and distinctive technologies" based on its corporate philosophy of "For People, Society and the Earth." We will continue to contribute to the construction of a recycling-oriented society through the development of recycling technology that helps reduce environmental impact in the future.

About EFT

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