Estimation on hazardous characteristics of the components from linear type of end-of-life light-emitting diode lamps

Abstract

The supply of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps has been expanding as lighting devices to replace fluorescent lamps. Accordingly, it is expected that a large amount of end-of-life LED lamps will be generated. Among various types of LED lamps, liner LED lamps are generally used. Since linear LED lamps have been reported to use hazardous materials such as As and Pb, the hazardous characteristics of end-of-life LED lamps were estimated. To verify the hazardous characteristics of end-of-life linear LED lamps, leaching tests such as Korea Extraction Test (KET) and Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) were carried out for the overall mixture and the each component of end-of-life linear LED lamps. The linear LED lamp is generally composed of cover, frame, LED, the driver and others. The portions of LED and the driver in linear LED lamp are only about 1% and 10%, respectively. End-of-life linear LED lamp can be non-hazardous waste because leaching concentrations of heavy metals in the overall mixture of end-of-life linear LED lamp were lower than the regulatory level. Since leaching concentrations of As, Pb and Cu in LED and the driver were higher than the regulatory level, however, LED and the driver can be classified as the hazardous waste.