MIT's Filter Captures 99% of Aluminum from Industrial Waste

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MIT's new filter saves 99% of wasted aluminum from factory trash, helping reduce waste and meet growing metal needs.

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The filter works like a magnet that pulls out only aluminum bits while letting other materials pass through.

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Factories currently throw away about 2,800 tons of aluminum each year in waste materials.

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Worldwide aluminum production will grow by 40% by 2030 as more products use this metal.

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Scientists tested a small filter the size of a playing card that works well even in tough factory conditions.

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Japanese company Nitto Denko helped create this filter, with results shared in a science magazine.

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The team plans to make bigger filters rolled into tubes, similar to water cleaning plants.

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This system cuts down trash and helps reuse aluminum without mining more," says MIT professor John Lienhard.

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The next big task is making these filters work in real factories to help make aluminum products more earth-friendly.

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