Abstract
The recovery of raw materials from waste represents a sustainable growth opportunity for those countries with limited mineral
resources availability. A case study for an integrated approach to recover raw materials from spent fluorescent lamps is
presented, with the aim of improving the current treatments which are only able to recover the glass fraction. In particular a
hydrometallurgical process was developed to obtain valuable metals such antimony, copper, and rare earths (yttrium and
europium). Grinded powders were leached with several inorganic acids, then antimony and copper were recovered by
electrodeposition; Y and Eu were finally precipitated as oxalates. The precipitate was dissolved and the rare earths were
separated by solvent extraction. This approach, based on the holistic view of all elements contained in an End–of–Life complex
product, ensures both environmental and economic sustainability since it allows waste reduction and materials recovery.