An integrated DIY paper-based fluorescent platform for on-spot analysis of Ni(II) from electronic scrap and Co(II) monitoring in blood serum

Analysis of concrete strength on partial replacement of coarse aggregate with the electronic scrap - A Review

Critical elements such as tantalum (Ta) and manganese (Mn) are in high demand and subject to supply chain disruptions, underscoring the importance of effective recycling strategies. Tantalum capacitors (TCs), which can contain up to 50% Ta and 18% Mn, represent a significant source of Ta-bearing electronic scrap (e-scrap). Here, we develop a selective carbothermal reduction method driven by 2.45 GHz microwave heating to recover Ta and Mn from end-of-life TCs. Guided by Ellingham and phase diagrams using the CALPHAD approach, the capacitors underwent a three-stage process at varying temperatures and pressures. XRD and ICP-MS analyses confirmed the formation of stable TaC with 97% purity, while Mn was reduced to lower oxide forms. This scalable, selective, and energy-competitive technique offers a new route for the secondary mining of critical metals from heterogeneous e-scrap.

This work describes an automated pilot plant for the extraction of rare-earth (RE) permanent magnets from computer hard-disk drives (HDDs), demonstrating a commercially viable way to exploit these abundant sources of end-of-life (EOL) magnets. A mobile approach is provided for the on-site destruction of the HDDs in server farms, in compliance with the European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enabling both separation of the magnets and automated shredding of the data carrier. This fully automated process identifies (both optically and magnetically) the location of the rare-earth magnets and cuts off the corner of the hard drive containing the rare-earth material in the voice coil motor. This allows for a significant reduction in magnet extraction time (6 s per HDD) compared to previously reported semi-automated (2 min) and manual (5 min) dismantling times. This work will also help to transfer the experience gained in the mobile pilot plant to other future sources of EOL materials such as drive motors and mixed electronic scrap.

A simple and accurate method for the determination of Rh, Pd, and Pt in e-waste and spent automotive catalysts using HR-CS FAAS for assessing the value of secondary raw materials

Gold recovery from electronic scrap waste by low-temperature chloridizing roasting

Useful metals recovery from electronic scraps of headphones – A sustainable approach

This study evaluated workers' exposures to flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and other brominated flame retardants (BFRs), in various industries. The study aimed to characterize OPE metabolite urinary concentrations and PBDE serum concentrations among workers from different industries, compare these concentrations between industries and the general population, and evaluate the likely route of exposure (dermal or inhalation). The results showed that workers from chemical manufacturing had significantly higher (p <0.05) urinary concentrations of OPE metabolites compared to other industries. Spray polyurethane foam workers had significantly higher (p <0.05) urinary concentrations of bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) compared to other industries. Electronic scrap workers had higher serum concentrations of certain PBDE congeners compared to the general population. Correlations were observed between hand wipe samples and air samples containing specific flame-retardant parent chemicals and urinary metabolite concentrations for some industries, suggesting both dermal absorption and inhalation as primary routes of exposure for OPEs. Overall, this study provides insights into occupational exposure to flame retardants in different industries and highlights the need for further research on emerging flame retardants and exposure reduction interventions.

While the amount of electronic waste is increasing worldwide, the heterogeneity of electronic scrap makes the recycling very complicated. Hydrometallurgical methods are currently applied in e-waste recycling which tend to generate complex polymetallic solutions due to dissolution of all metal components. Although biosorption has previously been described as a viable option for metal recovery and removal from low-concentration or single-metal solutions, information about the application of selective metal biosorption from polymetallic solutions is missing. In this study, an environmentally friendly and selective biosorption approach, based on the pH-dependency of metal sorption processes is presented using spent brewer's yeast to efficiently recover metals like aluminum, copper, zinc and nickel out of polymetallic solutions. Therefore, a design of experiment (DoE) approach was used to identify the effects of pH, metal, and biomass concentration, and optimize the biosorption efficiency for each individual metal. After process optimization with single-metal solutions, biosorption experiments with lyophilized waste yeast biomass were performed with synthetic polymetallic solutions where over 50% of aluminum at pH 3.5, over 40% of copper at pH 5.0 and over 70% of zinc at pH 7.5 could be removed. Moreover, more than 50% of copper at pH 3.5 and over 90% of zinc at pH 7.5 were recovered from a real polymetallic waste stream after leaching of printed-circuit boards. The reusability of yeast biomass was confirmed in five consecutive biosorption steps with little loss in metal recovery abilities. This proves that spent brewer's yeast can be sustainably used to selectively recover metals from polymetallic waste streams different to previously reported studies.

Integrated Gasification of Biomass Residues (IBGCC)

Data-driven approach for Cu recovery from hazardous e-waste

Sustainable Recycling of Copper from Printed Circuit Boards with Iminodiacetamide Resin─Transformation from Electronic Scrap to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Yttrium is a heavy rare earth element (REE) that acquires remarkable characteristics when it is in oxide form and doped with other REEs. Owing to these characteristics Y2 O3 can be used in the manufacture of several products. However, a supply deficit of this mineral is expected in the coming years, contributing to its price fluctuation. Thus, developing an efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly process to recover Y2 O3 from secondary sources has become necessary. In this study, we used phage surface display to screen peptides with high specificity for Y2 O3 particles. After three rounds of enrichment, a phage expressing the peptide TRTGCHVPRCNTLS (DM39) from the random pVIII phage peptide library Cys4 was found to bind specifically to Y2 O3 , being 531.6-fold more efficient than the wild-type phage. The phage DM39 contains two arginines in the polar side chains, which may have contributed to the interaction between the mineral targets. Immunofluorescence assays identified that the peptide's affinity was strong for Y2 O3 and negligible to LaPO4 :Ce3+ ,Tb3+ . The identification of a peptide with high specificity and affinity for Y2 O3 provides a potentially new strategic approach to recycle this type of material from secondary sources, especially from electronic scrap.

Continued decreasing of the world’s average copper ore grades, coupled with a meteoric rise in the generation of consumer waste streams, has led to the processing of electronic scrap (e-scrap) and other secondaries assuming increasing importance within the global copper industry. Treatment of these secondary feeds has traditionally been carried out in the Blast furnace, Peirce-Smith converter and/or anode furnace. More recently however, bath smelting processes such as the Ausmelt TSL and Outotec Kaldo technologies have emerged as the preferred option for processing these materials due to their superior environmental performance and flexibility to operate under a wide range of conditions. Furthermore, the ability of these processes to handle a wide range of feed inputs make them ideally placed for the processing of not only e-scrap but also other waste streams from the clean energy transition such as end of life e-mobility batteries and photovoltaic systems. This paper focuses on the processing of electronic scrap and other copper secondaries with Ausmelt TSL technology and discusses specific issues facing secondary copper smelters in relation to impurity management and process offgas handling/cleaning.

Investigation of Liberation Mechanism of Electronic Scrap by Impact Energy Measurements and DEM Simulations

Incorporating principal component analysis into Hotelling [formula omitted] control chart for compositional data monitoring

to analyze the industry features of accounting for operations of recycled metal-containing resources, to develop and present procedures and methods for auditing industry features of accounting for operations of recycled metal-containing resources. Particular attention is paid to the recycling of decommissioned vehicles and audit procedures for recycling electronic scrap.

Pollution by end-of-life electronics is a rapid ever-increasing threat and is a universal concern with production of million metric tons of these wastes per annum. Electronic wastes (E-waste) are rejected electric or electronic equipment which have no other applications. The aggrandized unproper land filling of E-waste may generate hazardous effects on living organisms and ecosystem. At present, millions of tons of E-waste await the advancement of more efficient and worthwhile recycling techniques. Recovery of base and critical elements from electronic scraps will not only reduce the mining of these elements from natural resources but also reduces the contamination caused by the hazardous chemicals (mostly organic micropollutants) released from these wastes when unproperly disposed of. Bioleaching is reported to be the most eco-friendly process for metal recycling from spent electronic goods. A detailed investigation of microbial biodiversity and a molecular understanding of the metabolic pathways of bioleaching microorganisms will play a vital function in extraction of valuable minerals from the end-of-life scraps. Bioleaching technique as an economic and green technology costs around 7 USD per kg for effective reusing of E-waste as compared to other physical and chemical techniques. This review provides a summary of worldwide scenario of electronic pollutants; generation, composition and hazardous components of electronic waste; recycling of valuable elements through bioleaching; mechanism of bioleaching; microorganisms involved in base and critical element recovery from E-waste; commercial bioleaching operations; and upcoming aspects of this eco-friendly technique.

BackgroundIn the strive towards a circular economy, metal waste recycling is a growing industry. During the recycling process, particulate matter containing toxic and allergenic metals will be emitted to the air causing unintentional exposure to humans and environment. ObjectiveIn this study detailed characterization of particle emissions and workplace exposures were performed, covering the full size range from 10 nm to 10 µm, during recycling of three different material flows: Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), metal scrap, and cables. MethodsBoth direct-reading instruments (minute resolution), and time-integrated filter measurements for gravimetric and chemical analysis were used. Additionally, optical sensors were applied and evaluated for long-term online monitoring of air quality in industrial settings. ResultsThe highest concentrations, in all particle sizes, and with respect both to particle mass and number, were measured in the WEEE flow, followed by the metal scrap flow. The number fraction of nanoparticles was high for all material flows (0.66–0.86). The most abundant metals were Fe, Al, Zn, Pb and Cu. Other elements of toxicological interest were Mn, Ba and Co. SignificanceThe large fraction of nanoparticles, and the fact that their chemical composition deviate from that of the coarse particles, raises questions that needs to be further addressed including toxicological implications, both for humans and for the environment.

Gold Extraction with Strach: Green Specific Recovery of Gold from Electronic Scrap