CRT rebuiding...recaiming old phospher
 

I have a friend who has started a recycling business. He is reclaiming the phosphor out of picture tubes as one of his endeavors. He has a sealed room with gloves and glass like a blast cabinet has. So far they are just collecting whatever blows out when they break the end off. I remember reading a post abut washing the phosphor out But I am unsure of the process Can anyone shed some light on it? Plus side of his endeavors he pulls out stuff that has tubes or might be worth saving. i will be posting some items soon.

This seems like a very strange endeavor. I wonder what the market for reclaimed phosphor can be? Are these black and white or color tubes? I'd think color tube phosphor would be useless because the three colors would get mixed together. Plus, you can't get at the screen very well with the shadow mask in place.

Edit: even if it's black and white tubes only, I wonder what the market can be?
Or is he just trying to clean out the phosphor and not actually recycle it?

He is selling it to a paint company. Color and b&w

Wonder if he also goes after the phosphors in florescent light bulbs. Though there's no mercury in CRTs.

He wont touch those. He was worried about cadmium tho. HE heard that the old b&w had more of it in the guns. I'm not sure about that.

Does that mean he is saving tube sets from being recycled or recycling them.

If he is saving tube sets he should also save any of the early solid state sets that have the delta gun color CRTs. Some of those sets are collectable, and even if they aren't collectible the CRT in them can be used in older collectible tube color sets.

From RACS videos on you tube it would seem that the chemicals including the phosphor for rephosphoring CRTs is still readily available and likely don't cost too much. Color tubes can't be practically rephosphored from what I understand. And saving phosphor from color tubes makes no sense because the ratio of phosphor from the three primaries can not be controlled to give a color of light similar to that of P4 phosphor used in monochrome tubes which can be rephosphored.

What's being recycled is likely just the rare earth elements in the
phosphors. The Chinese are currently holding a near monopoly
on new rare earth production, and vast quantities are needed because of the
ill-conceived mandate to get rid of tungsten filament household lamps at
a rapid rate. The mixed elements will just get dumped into the
element separation pot.

The USA has lots of rare earth deposits, the problem is probably
cost and the realization that the Chinese will just respond to
increased world production with dumping. Near zero wages and zero
environmental regulations can't be beat.

Doug McDonald

They pull out the older sets and set them aside. For whoever would pay them more than scrap prices. So collectors or fishtankers. I try to get over there as much as possible. see if they missed any. I will test the crts and set aside the ones worth saving. I will post some pics soon of what they have. zip is 49829.

Yes, re: the Chinese- they are holding large stocks of neodymium as is used in high-end audio transducers. The United States has depleted this rare-earth already.
it is a commodity that is needed in the hobby,
and Yes to reclaim phosphor material here is smart since the Zinc, Aluminum, and Cadmium will otherwise spoil the landfill runoff (huge, huge problem which will not be realized for decades).
...also the profits may prove to be something.

I posted some pics over in curbside