Abstract
Precious metal (PM) and copper content of dynamic-RAM modules placed on the market during 1991–2008 has been analysed by AAS following comminution and acid digestion. Linear regression analysis of compositional data ordered according to sample chronology was used to identify historic temporal trends in module composition resulting from changes in manufacturing practices, and to project future trends for use in more accurate assessment of future recycling potential. DRAM was found to be ‘high grade’ waste with: stable levels of gold and silver over time; 80% reduction in palladium content during 1991–2008; and 0.23g/module/year increase in copper content with a 75% projected increase from 2008 by 2020.The accuracy of future recycling potential projections for WEEE using current methods based on static compositional data from current devices is questionable due to likely changes in future device composition. The impact on recycling potential projections of waste laptops, smart phones, cell phones and tablets arising in Europe in 2020 resulting from a 75% increase in copper content is considered against existing projections using static compositional data. The results highlight that failing to consider temporal variations in PM content may result in significant discrepancies between projections and future recycling potential.
Highlights
The strategic importance of recovering Precious metal (PM) and copper has been well explored; platinum group metals (PGMs) have been highlighted in the EU14 and EU20 critical materials reports (EC, 2010, 2014) and recovery of silver and gold has been shown by the Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) to be of key importance to the UK economy with gold being the most unsecure of 69 metals assessed (Morley and Eatherley, 2008)
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) is of a high grade compared to other PC printed circuit board (PCB) (Table 4) with an average composition for dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) of $1,000 pm gold, $70 ppm palladium, $1,600 ppm silver and $200 ppt copper
The number of RAM modules in PCs placed on the market (POM) in 2013 has been shown to be 137 million units which, based on the average composition determined for DIMMs, contained 2.5 tonnes of gold, 3.9 tonnes of silver, 160 kg of palladium and 465 tonnes of copper with a total market value of USD 103 million
Summary
Ongondo et al, 2011) with global generation reaching 41.8 million tonnes/year in 2014 (UNU-ISP, 2015), increasing by 3–5% annually (Menikpura et al, 2014). It accounts for 5% of all municipal solid waste (Widmer et al, 2005). The strategic importance of recovering PMs and copper has been well explored; PGMs have been highlighted in the EU14 and EU20 critical materials reports (EC, 2010, 2014) and recovery of silver and gold has been shown by the Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) to be of key importance to the UK economy with gold being the most unsecure of 69 metals assessed (Morley and Eatherley, 2008).
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