Salmon sperm 'key ingredient for recycling smartphones'

Japanese scientists have developed a process that uses salmon sperm, also known as milt, to recover and separate REEs in a solution.

At present, REEs are extracted through processes that are extremely costly and damaging to the environment. The new process could provide an environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative.

REEs are used in electronics including smartphones, computers and electronic circuits. Experts believe their discovery could be applied to the extraction of these metals – meaning they could be recycled, rather than ending up in landfill.

Published in the journal PLOS One, the study was led by Yoshio Takahashi at the University of Tokyo.