Utilization of Life Cycle Assessment methodology to compare two strategies for recovery of copper from printed circuit board scrap (original) (raw)
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Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2018
Challenges of sustainable development, particularly 'living within limited infinity' and 'scarcity of natural resources' have urged scientific community to develop innovative processes that integrate into complex technology and reduce ecological disturbances. Present study provides a state-of-art review on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) ranging from an analysis of relevance, government initiatives, management strategies, conventional methods of metal recovery and novel alternatives. WEEE generation and its management tools have been a subject to various review articles, however resource(s) recovery from WEEE has not been hashed out intricately in literature. Presence of significant amount of precious/rare metals makes WEEE a secondary resource of metals and therefore warrants special attention relative to general solid waste management strategies. Various hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical approaches have been reported for efficient metal recovery from WEEE; still a decisive assessment of conventional approaches has not been sufficiently explicated. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of literature is essentially necessitated in order to create a common framework of knowledge in this emerging research area. This review article critically analyses the technical feasibility of conventional practices for metal recovery from WEEE and suggests that conventional processes may not meet the industrial feasibility because of secondary pollution possibilities and high economics. Hence, emerging trends in the field of metal extraction from WEEE have been discussed which has not been reviewed yet, to the best of our knowledge, in any review articles. It is believed that this review may provide an insight to look into novel technologies such as chelation technology, use of ionic liquids, and other alternative technologies for resource optimization and waste management. waste stream. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Electronic Waste (e-waste) are the two more frequently used terms for discarded EEE appliances [1]. E-waste refers to discarded electronic goods (e.g. computers, mobile telephones), whereas WEEE additionally incudes non-electronic appliances (e.g. refrigerators, air conditioning units, washing machines) [2]. In present study, the solid waste stream
This thesis reports on the research undertaken to improve the end-of life management of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) through the generation of bespoke recycling process plans for various electrical and electronic products. The principle objective of this research is to develop an integrated framework to incorporate the related product, process and legislative information during the end-of-life management to promote sustainable practices of processing of such waste. The research contributions are divided into three major parts. The first part reviews the relevant literature in the areas of environmental concerns related to the electrical and electronic recovery sector and end-of-life product recovery decision support tools. The second part investigates the 'Recycling Process Planning' framework which incorporates product evaluation, legislative compliance monitoring, and ecological and economical assessment to generate bespoke eco-efficient recycling process plans for recovery and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The third part includes the design and implementation of a novel computer aided recycling process planner that demonstrates the application of recycling process planning framework and the associated ecological and economical assessment methodology to identify the most appropriate end-of-life options for WEEE. The validity of the research concept has been demonstrated via three case studies.
A multidimensional indicator set to assess the benefits of WEEE material recycling
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014
a b s t r a c t EU strategies for waste management have long recognized the key role of recycling to move towards sustainable consumption and production. This resulted in a range of regulatory measures, among which the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, which sets weight-based targets for recovery, preparation for re-use and recycling. The increasing strategic relevance of the supply of raw materials has, however, spurred a more integrated approach towards resource efficiency. In addition to the prevention of disposal, recycling practices are now also meant to contribute to sustainable materials management by pursuing (i) a higher degree of material cycle closure, (ii) an improved recovery of strategically relevant materials, and (iii) the avoidance of environmental burdens associated with the extraction and refining of primary raw materials. In response to this evolution, this paper reports about the development of an indicator set that allows to quantitatively demonstrate these recycling benefits, hence going further than the weight-based objectives employed in the WEEE directive. The indicators can be calculated for WEEE recycling processes for which information is available on both input and output fractions. It offers a comprehensive framework that aims to support decision making processes on product design, to identify opportunities for the optimization of WEEE End-of-Life scenarios, and to assess the achieved (or expected) results of implemented (or planned) recycling optimization strategies. The paper is illustrated by a case study on the recycling of LCD televisions.
Waste Management and Recycling to Recover Metals without Producing Harmful By-Products
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET), 2022
Given the volume of e-waste generated and the content of both dangerous and valuable materials in it, electronic garbage, or e-waste, is both an expanding concern and a growing commercial opportunity. Lack of technical skills, insufficient infrastructure, insufficient financial assistance, and inactive community involvement are all factors that contribute to the difficulty of electronic waste management. This paper presents a comprehensive summary of the issues connected with incorrect E-waste recycling processes, as well as measures to mitigate their harmful impacts on human health and the environment. Inventory of used electronic items, which may be generated by building an environmentally friendly recycling regulation system, is essential for proper e-waste management. In both developed and developing countries, approaches have been created to aid in the implementation of good waste management. Systematic waste management techniques, together with best practices, are projected to help developing countries maintain a sustainable and resilient environment while reducing negative consequences. The electronics industry is the largest and fastest-growing manufacturing sector on the planet. However, rising electronic device sales, quick technological obsolescence, fashion, style, and status changes have resulted in e-waste, also known as e-waste. If waste is not properly disposed of, it includes many toxic components that can harm the environment and human health. As garbage is generated and disposed of in a globalized world, waste concerns are of global importance. Trash management is becoming increasingly significant in India, not just for the country's own rubbish production, but also for the landfilling of waste from industrialized countries. This is due to India's lack of suitable disposal and recycling infrastructure and methods. The goal is to come up with creative and cost-effective ways to detoxify waste-contaminated habitats, make them safe for human habitation and consumption, and safeguard ecosystem services. Distinct categories of E-waste, different classifications of E-hazardous waste components, E-waste treatment methods, and more ecologically friendly and profitable methods for decontaminating E-waste from soil water habitats are discussed in this study. Innovative bioremediation technology, the waste management problem that India poses, and the idea of a formal trash recycling system in India. Keywords: E-waste management. Recycling. Electronic waste. Hazardous components. Formal methods Heavy metals. Cost-effective solution. Developmental toxicology. I. INTRODUCTION Electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing is one of the world's fastest expanding industries in today's era. Rapid economic expansion, urbanization, and rising consumer demand all contribute to EEE consumption and production. E-waste is waste produced by used electronic gadgets and household appliances that are no longer fit for their intended purpose and are designated for recovery and disposal. According to the Environmental Protection Act, 3.20 million tonnes of e-waste were generated in the United States in 2008-2009, with just 13.6 percent of that quantity recycled. The remaining waste was disposed of in burners. E-waste is transferred to Asia in over 60% of cases. More than 40% of the total E-waste generated in India is generated in 65 Indian cities. In India, ten states account for 70% of all E-waste created. Maharashtra is one of the most E-waste producing states in India, followed by Tamil Nadu,
Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2015
With growing interest in recovering materials within electrical and electronic equipment at the end of their useful life, there has been an increasing interest in developing decision-making methodologies that determine how to maximize the recycling benefits of end-of life processing. In the case of multi-criteria decision methods, the most complex step is to identify the decision criteria that can be characterized by attributes by decision makers and are relevant to the analysed situation taking into account all impact categories. This study identifies and describes the set of criteria based on product characteristics relevant for recycling in Romania, from the point of view of recyclers. Nineteen criteria were identified and grouped into 3 categories, namely: economic, environmental and technical.
A Novel Recycling Approach for Transforming Waste Printed Circuit Boards into a Material Resource
Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2014
The recovery of materials from urban waste has become progressively more important with wastes providing a variety of resources. This study focuses on the recycling of electronic printed circuit boards (PCBs) from mobile phones, computers, TVs, white goods, and microprocessors etc. that contain significant amounts of hazardous/toxic components along with a variety of metals, ceramics and polymers. Both formal and informal sectors are engaged worldwide in recycling such e-waste to recover precious and other metals (upto 40-70% of value). However poor recycling techniques, especially in developing countries, generate high levels of environmental pollution that affects both the ecosystems and the people living within or near the main recycling areas. Various e-waste recycling methods used in the informal sector include manual dismantling, open burning of PCBs, plastic chipping and melting, burning wires to recover copper, acid & cyanide salt leaching, and inadequate metallurgical treatments. These activities release dust particles loaded with heavy metals and flame retardants into the atmosphere that may redeposit near the emission site, or be transported over long distances depending on their size. Significant levels of environmental pollution are thus associated with recycling e-waste. This study presents an environmentally sustainable solution to e-waste management and reducing associated pollution during recycling. In this study, waste PCBs were heat treated in the temperature range 1150-1350°C for periods of up to 20 minutes in an Argon atmosphere. Key metallic constituents namely Cu, Sn and Pb showed a tendency to segregate out in the form of copper rich and Sn rich metallic balls. Minor elements such as Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, Pd, Pt and Zn segregated along with metallic droplets. Such high temperatures led to the removal of hazardous lead and the recovery of highly concentrated copper alloys and precious metals. Pyrolysis of PCBs also generated a carbon rich residue containing traces of Sn and very low levels of copper. Various ceramic impurities present precipitated out as slag and did not interfere with metal recovery.
Does WEEE recycling make sense from an environmental perspective?
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2005
The production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. At the same time this also means that the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will continue to increase in the coming decades. As it is crucial to obtain more knowledge about the environmental consequences of the different WEEE treatment options, a study examining the two Swiss take-back and recycling systems of SWICO (for computers, consumer electronics and telecommunication equipment) and S.EN.S (household appliances) has been conducted. The two systems, which are based on an advanced recycling fee, are well established within Switzerland. With a combined approach of material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), the environmental impacts of these two systems have been estimated, including all further treatment steps, which transform the fractions either into secondary materials or into waste for final disposal. As a baseline, we have used a scenario assuming that no WEEE is recycled and hence only primary production for the similar amount of raw materials. The impact assessment is based on characterization factors according to the Dutch CML methodology. 0195-9255/$ -see front matter D (J. Gauglhofer). Environmental Impact Assessment Review 25 (2005) 525 -539 www.elsevier.com/locate/eiar
Recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment
2007
Purpose: This paper describes the current status of waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling and disposal in Europe, and its impact on the environment, human health and the economy. Design/methodology/approach: The production of electric and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing areas. This development has resulted in an increase of WEEE. Increased recycling of WEEE is supposed to limit the total quantity of waste going to final disposal. Findings: Based on comprehensive bibliography, this article reviewed the implementation of strategies of WEEE treatment and the recovery technologies of WEEE. Research limitations/implications: Further studies should be undertaken in order to develop integrated WEEE recycling and disposal systems. Practical implications: In view of the environmental problems involved in the management of WEEE, many countries and organizations have drafted national legislation to improve the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of such waste so as to reduce disposal. Recycling of WEEE is an important subject not only from the point of waste treatment but also from the recovery of valuable materials. The study of WEEE properties is important for a further recycling and eventual reuse.
The exponential growth in the consumption of electronics, in combination with the reduction in their useful life, leads to a significant increase in the volume of electronic material discarded. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are modules composed of ceramic, polymer and metallic materials of high economic value and with a great potential for damage to biotic and anthropic environments when inadequately discarded. The aims of this work was to study the main environmental impacts and the efficiency of mechanical operations in the electronic waste recycling process in optimizing the concentration of metallic copper. For this, the samples obtained were characterized according to their morphology and chemical composition, and subjected to physical and mechanical treatments: dismantling, grinding, separation by granulometry, density and magnetic property. The environment impacts were estimated by the Life Cycle Assessment of the pre-treatment processes, associated with copper extraction ope...
WEEE Recycling at IME – RWTH Aachen: From Basic Metal Recovery to Resource Efficiency
2020
The WEEE directive 2002/86/EG defined WEEE as the end-of-life products from electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) [1]. Waste from electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing wastes in Europe (3 to 5 % per year) and it is expected to be increased to 12.3 mill. t by 2020 [2, 3]. According to estimates, at least 20 to 50 mill. t of electrical and electronic equipment are produced annually worldwide [4]. WEEE can be defined as a complex mixture of different materials and components with important presence of hazardous substances, which demands proper management to avoid environmental and health problems. In addition, it is estimated that an important amount of resources (e.g. 10 % of the gold production, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/ weee/index_en.htm) are spent in the fabrication of electronic equipment. Therefore, it is not only the considerable amount of scraps to be processed but also the importance of developing an effective handling in terms of ...