Decontamination of Mercury contained in CCFLs (Cold Cathode Fluorescence Light) disassembled from Waste LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display)

Abstract

LCD televisions and monitors use cold cathode fluorescence lamps (CCFLs) to illuminate the screen. Most CCFLs contain mercury and they have to be carefully handled at the end of their lives as per minimum treatment standards under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives. CCFLs were carefully separated from mold frames of waste LCD units for primary decontamination of mercury/fluorescent compound mixture using CCFL decontamination system designed and fabricated in the present research. Residual mercury was further removed by employing a pyro-process, where crushed CCFL tubes transferred from primary decontamination process were subject to heat treatment at 550 o C in a box furnace: more than 99% of mercury was removable from waste CCFLs.