IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2019i1p74-d300235.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Advanced Recovery Techniques for Waste Materials from IT and Telecommunication Equipment Printed Circuit Boards

Author

Listed:
  • Horațiu Vermeșan

    (Faculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Bd. Muncii 103-105, Cluj-Napoca 400641, Romania)

  • Ancuța-Elena Tiuc

    (Faculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Bd. Muncii 103-105, Cluj-Napoca 400641, Romania)

  • Marius Purcar

    (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, G Baritiu, nr. 26, Cluj-Napoca 400027, Romania)

Abstract

Waste from information technology (IT) and telecommunication equipment (WITTE) constitutes a significant fraction of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The presence of rare metals and hazardous materials (e.g., heavy metals or flame retardants) makes the necessary recycling procedures difficult and expensive. Important efforts are being made for Waste Printed Circuit Board (WPCB) recycling because, even if they only amount to 5–10% of the WITTE weight, they constitute up to 80% of the recovered value. This paper summarizes the recycling techniques applicable to WPCBs. In the first part, dismantling and mechanical recycling techniques are presented. Within the frame of electro-mechanical separation technology, the chain process of shredding, washing, and sieving, followed by one or a combination of magnetic, eddy current, corona electrostatic, triboelectrostatic, or gravity separation techniques, is presented. The chemical and electrochemical processes are of utmost importance for the fine separation of metals coming from complex equipment such as WPCBs. Thermal recycling techniques such as pyrolysis and thermal treatment are presented as complementary solutions for achieving both an extra separation stage and thermal energy. As the recycling processes of WPCBs require adequate, efficient, and ecological recycling techniques, the aim of this survey is to identify and highlight the most important ones. Due to the high economic value of the resulting raw materials relative to the WPCBs’ weight and composition, their recycling represents both a necessary environmental protection action, as well as an economic opportunity.

Suggested Citation

  • Horațiu Vermeșan & Ancuța-Elena Tiuc & Marius Purcar, 2019. "Advanced Recovery Techniques for Waste Materials from IT and Telecommunication Equipment Printed Circuit Boards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:74-:d:300235
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/1/74/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/1/74/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2015. "Recycling of WEEEs: An economic assessment of present and future e-waste streams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 263-272.
    2. Keshav Parajuly & Henrik Wenzel, 2017. "Product Family Approach in E-Waste Management: A Conceptual Framework for Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Perrine Chancerel & Christina E.M. Meskers & Christian Hagelüken & Vera Susanne Rotter, 2009. "Assessment of Precious Metal Flows During Preprocessing of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 13(5), pages 791-810, October.
    4. Huihui Liu & Xiaolin Wu & Desheng Dou & Xu Tang & G. Keong Leong, 2018. "Determining Recycling Fees and Subsidies in China’s WEEE Disposal Fund with Formal and Informal Sectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, August.
    5. Samantha E. Cruz-Sotelo & Sara Ojeda-Benítez & Jorge Jáuregui Sesma & Karla I. Velázquez-Victorica & Néstor Santillán-Soto & O. Rafael García-Cueto & Víctor Alcántara Concepción & Camilo Alcántara, 2017. "E-Waste Supply Chain in Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2016. "A profitability assessment of European recycling processes treating printed circuit boards from waste electrical and electronic equipments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 749-760.
    7. Raffaele Isernia & Renato Passaro & Ivana Quinto & Antonio Thomas, 2019. "The Reverse Supply Chain of the E-Waste Management Processes in a Circular Economy Framework: Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mazzarano, Matteo, 2020. "Estimating total potential material recovery from EEE in EU28," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Wieslaw Lyskawinski & Mariusz Baranski & Cezary Jedryczka & Jacek Mikolajewicz & Roman Regulski & Dominik Rybarczyk & Dariusz Sedziak, 2021. "Analysis of Triboelectrostatic Separation Process of Mixed Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and High-Density Polyethylene," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto & Auro de Jesus Cardoso Correia & Henrricco Nieves Pujol Tucci & Rosângela Andrade Pita Brancalhão Melatto & Marlene Amorim, 2023. "Reverse Chain for Electronic Waste to Promote Circular Economy in Brazil: A Survey on Electronics Manufacturers and Importers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-27, February.
    2. Daniela Cordova-Pizarro & Ismael Aguilar-Barajas & David Romero & Ciro A. Rodriguez, 2019. "Circular Economy in the Electronic Products Sector: Material Flow Analysis and Economic Impact of Cellphone E-Waste in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Samuel Abalansa & Badr El Mahrad & John Icely & Alice Newton, 2021. "Electronic Waste, an Environmental Problem Exported to Developing Countries: The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Mazzarano, Matteo, 2020. "Estimating total potential material recovery from EEE in EU28," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Neves, Sónia Almeida & Marques, António Cardoso & de Sá Lopes, Leonardo Batista, 2024. "Is environmental regulation keeping e-waste under control? Evidence from e-waste exports in the European Union," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    6. Daniel Baratieri Valente & Ricardo César da Silva Guabiroba & Marco Antonio Conejero & Marcelino Aurélio Vieira Silva & Aldara da Silva César, 2021. "Economic analysis of waste electrical and electronic equipment management: a study involving recycling cooperatives in Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(12), pages 17628-17649, December.
    7. Dias, Pablo R. & Schmidt, Lucas & Chang, Nathan L. & Monteiro Lunardi, Marina & Deng, Rong & Trigger, Blair & Bonan Gomes, Lucas & Egan, Renate & Veit, Hugo, 2022. "High yield, low cost, environmentally friendly process to recycle silicon solar panels: Technical, economic and environmental feasibility assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    8. Ayisha Siddiqua & Maisa El Gamal & Waheed Kareem Abdul & Lama Mahmoud & Fares M Howari, 2022. "E-Device Purchase and Disposal Behaviours in the UAE: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
    9. Ksenija Denčić-Mihajlov & Mladen Krstić & Dejan Spasić, 2020. "Sensitivity Analysis as a Tool in Environmental Policy for Sustainability: The Case of Waste Recycling Projects in the Republic of Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa & Sergio Terzi, 2016. "Challenges in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management: A Profitability Assessment in Three European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Lynda Andeobu & Santoso Wibowo & Srimannarayana Grandhi, 2023. "Environmental and Health Consequences of E-Waste Dumping and Recycling Carried out by Selected Countries in Asia and Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-28, July.
    12. Piotr Nowakowski & Sandra Kuśnierz & Julia Płoszaj & Patrycja Sosna, 2021. "Collecting Small-Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Poland—How Can Containers Help in Disposal of E-Waste by Individuals?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    13. Camelia Delcea & Liliana Crăciun & Corina Ioanăș & Gabriella Ferruzzi & Liviu-Adrian Cotfas, 2020. "Determinants of Individuals’ E-Waste Recycling Decision: A Case Study from Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-28, April.
    14. Panchal, Rohit & Singh, Anju & Diwan, Hema, 2021. "Economic potential of recycling e-waste in India and its impact on import of materials," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    15. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Koh, SC Lenny & Rosa, Paolo, 2017. "A comparison of environmental and energetic performance of European countries: A sustainability index," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 401-413.
    16. Monica Leba & Andreea Ionica & Raluca Dovleac & Remus Dobra, 2018. "Waste Management System for Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, January.
    17. Raffaele Isernia & Renato Passaro & Ivana Quinto & Antonio Thomas, 2019. "The Reverse Supply Chain of the E-Waste Management Processes in a Circular Economy Framework: Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, April.
    18. Taelim Choi & Randall W. Jackson & Nancey Green Leigh & Christa D. Jensen, 2011. "A Baseline Input—Output Model with Environmental Accounts (IOEA) Applied to E-Waste Recycling," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 34(1), pages 3-33, January.
    19. Federica Cucchiella & Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa, 2015. "Industrial Photovoltaic Systems: An Economic Analysis in Non-Subsidized Electricity Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, November.
    20. Milovantseva, Natalia & Fitzpatrick, Colin, 2015. "Barriers to electronics reuse of transboundary e-waste shipment regulations: An evaluation based on industry experiences," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 170-177.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:74-:d:300235. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.