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Precious metals recovery from waste printed circuit boards: A review for current status and perspective

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  • Lu, Yan
  • Xu, Zhenming

Abstract

Nowadays, rapid economic growth, continuous technological innovation and the improvement of living standards have result in large amounts of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). Amongst all these WEEE, waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are considered as the most valuable components due to precious metals contained. Previous studies found that the presence of precious metals are richer in WPCBs than in typical metal mines, which are driven recycling precious metals from WPCBs to a profitable business without proper pollution controls in developing countries. However, recovering precious metals from WPCBs is a challenge because WPCBs are both valuable and harmful simultaneously, which are caused by their complex materials makeup. Hence, the proper technologies to recycle metals from WPCBs without negative effects to the environment and human health are urgent and essential. In this article, the current metals recycling technologies from WPCBs are reviewed. Then, an integrated technological route, including metals enrichment and precious metals recovery, is proposed. Finally, in order to promote the development of metals (precious metals) recovery from WPCBs, some improvements and recommendations in techniques and the future trend are also put forward.

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  • Lu, Yan & Xu, Zhenming, 2016. "Precious metals recovery from waste printed circuit boards: A review for current status and perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 28-39.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:113:y:2016:i:c:p:28-39
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.05.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Foley, Aoife M. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the glass industry: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Haichao Yang & Sheng Zhang, 2024. "Risk management of e-waste disposal in China: A life cycle perspective," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(3), pages 1235-1250, May.
    4. Pietro Romano & Emanuele Melchiorre & Francesco Vegliò, 2023. "ASPEN PLUS Predictive Simulation of Printed Circuit Boards Pyrolysis and Steam Gasification for Organic Fraction Valorization," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Ange A. Maurice & Khang Ngoc Dinh & Nicolas M. Charpentier & Andrea Brambilla & Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel, 2021. "Dismantling of Printed Circuit Boards Enabling Electronic Components Sorting and Their Subsequent Treatment Open Improved Elemental Sustainability Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-33, September.
    6. Serap Ubiç & Rasoul Khayyam Nekouei & Veena Sahajwalla, 2024. "A Two-Step Leaching Process Using Thiourea for the Recovery of Precious Metals from Waste Printed Circuit Boards," Waste, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-25, August.
    7. Wang, Huaidong & Zhang, Shuhao & Li, Bin & Pan, De’an & Wu, Yufeng & Zuo, Tieyong, 2017. "Recovery of waste printed circuit boards through pyrometallurgical processing: A review," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 209-218.

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