<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF METAL RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES INC. FOR ITS FISCAL FIRST QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000796117 <NAME> Metal Recovery Technologies, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 20 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 18 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 38 <PP&E> 3007 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 20461 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7796 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 44 <COMMON> 40 <OTHER-SE> 65105 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 20461 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 109 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 200 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (309) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (309) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (309) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.003) <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F1> <FN> <F1> ANTI-DILUTIVE </FN>