Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment Research Articles

Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitors in Lighting Equipment: Presence and Characterisation of Rare Earth Elements and Precious Metals

The need to reduce energy consumption in buildings, the emergence of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps in lighting around 2010, their long lifetime, and the 2025 target to use only LED lamps are changing the existing composition of Category 3 waste electrical–electronic equipment (WEEE) and creating expectations for simple, high-concentration recycling streams. In this study, multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) detached from the lighting sector’s WEEE were characterised for the presence of rare earth elements (REEs) and precious metals (PMs). Their digestion was carried out with HNO3 and aqua regia on a heating plate and characterised using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The contents of REEs and PMs found in the MLCCs were 0.84 wt% and 0.60 wt%, respectively, and create an economic stored value that is essentially defined by PMs of 98.67% and by palladium (Pd) of 78.37%. The analysis showed that the content of the main elements was: neodymium (Nd) 0.366 wt%, yttrium (Y) 0.220 wt%, dysprosium (Dy) 0.131 wt%, silver (Ag) 0.467 wt%, and Pd 0.105 wt%. These results indicate the need for selective removal and separate recycling processes of MLCCs from WEEE drivers.

Reutilización de equipos de cómputo con Linux Terminal Server Project

El incremento de los residuos de los aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos ha sido un tema discutido desde inicios de siglo, en muchos países existe un deficiente marco legal para su gestión; además, existe una corriente de economía circular que determina que la reutilización es la mejor opción para esta gestión. Desde el año 2019, el Perú ha establecido normas para la gestión de estos residuos especialmente para la reutilización. En la Universidad Nacional de San Martín – Tarapoto fue necesaria su aplicación debido a la gran cantidad de equipos de cómputo desactualizados. Los objetivos fueron reutilizar los equipos de cómputo desactualizados con el uso de Linux Terminal Server Project, establecer el procedimiento para la identificación y reutilización de los equipos de cómputo, implementar Linux Terminal Server Project y medir los resultados de la reutilización en comparación con equipos actualizados. Esta fue una investigación aplicada, de tipo experimental, con corte transversal, la población de estudio fueron 40 equipos de cómputo, la muestra fue de 6 equipos de cómputo, la técnica fue la verificación con lista de chequeo, aplicada a 2 grupos de equipos de cómputo, el primero a equipos desactualizados y el segundo a equipos de cómputo actuales. Se concluyó que con la implementación de Linux Terminal Server Project se logró un mayor rendimiento a los equipos de cómputo desactualizados situándose al nivel de un equipo informático moderno, además del impacto positivo en el medio ambiente y en la prolongación de la vida útil los equipos desactualizados.

Ferrocene-based metal-organic framework for highly efficient recovery of gold from WEEE

Exploitation of novel materials that show excellent gold recovery selectivity and high adsorption capacity is still a big challenge in recovery of gold from waste electrical & electronic equipment (WEEE). Herein, the redox MOF (FMOF-Co) material was prepared for highly efficient recovery of gold from WEEE. A combination of the redox ligand and the porous structure of FMOF-Co makes it an ideal absorbent with both of an excellent recovery selectivity (adsorption selection ratio of Au/Cu = 160, Au/Ni = 48) and an ultra-high adsorption capacity (1953.7 mg·g−1). Besides, the porous structure and the unique ultra-thin flakes of the FMOF-Co microspheres ensure a fast adsorption equilibrium time (10 min). The adsorption kinetic study and adsorption isotherm indicates a pseudo-second order adsorption kinetic behavior and Langmuir isotherm of the adsorption of gold ions on FMOF-Co. Besides, the iron from the ligand is found to be the most energetically favorable sites for the capture of [AuCl4]− ions with a binding energy of −3.92 eV calculated using DFT, gave this FMOF-Co of great chance as a promising material that might be employed for gold recovery from WEEE.

Trialling the preparation for reuse of consumer ICT WEEE in Ireland

This work investigated the potential of collecting consumer Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) for preparation for reuse in workplaces in Ireland. A series of WEEE to Work and public collection events were held where people were incentivized to return their data-bearing devices (Laptops, Tablets & Smartphones) with free data wiping and destruction being offered on all devices. The collected devices were sent to an approved preparation for reuse organisation where the devices were tested and assessed for their suitability for reuse using both technical and economic criteria.283 kg of laptops, smartphones and tablets were collected from 10 events of which 60 kg (28%) was suitable for preparation for reuse. A further 308 kg of WEEE outside of the scope of the research was also collected and recycled during the events.

Assessment of element-specific recycling efficiency in WEEE pre-processing

Pre-processing is a crucial step to ensure the efficiency of subsequent processes and the quality of recyclates. The efficiency of pre-processing can be affected by high losses to undesignated output fractions. Standard batch tests usually provide mass balances and are a good proxy for bulk materials balances (iron/steel, aluminum, plastics).This article aims at harmonizing methodologies and recommends a strategy for further study in pre-processing on a plant scale. We have developed an “extended batch test” method, which should help to•describe the fates of materials and elements,•assess the quality of output fractions,•identify access points for critical metals and other valuable elements to enable their recovery.A methodical approach was compiled with common material flow analysis methods and an extended set of methods, which improve the reliability via the assessment of uncertainties. This applies to systematic effects and random effects. This extended batch test was performed with a 40Mg Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) batch to trace the flows of industrial base metals, precious metals and critical metals in a WEEE pre-processing plant.Results show that one-third of the input was separated and sorted manually, while the remaining material was subsequently crushed and automatically sorted. Copper and precious metals are distributed to various output fractions but are most concentrated in the sorting residues. Critical metals like cobalt and rare earth elements are mainly concentrated in the manually sorted materials but also appear in the ferrous metals scrap and the shredder light fraction.

한국(韓國)의 E-waste 리싸이클링 시스템과 재자원화산업(再資源化産業)

E-waste는 종류가 많고 유통경로가 다양하여 눈에 보이지 않는 흐름이 주류를 형성하고 있다. E-waste에는 레어메탈의 사용이 많을 뿐 아니라 유해한 중금속도 함유되어 있어 자원확보면에서, 환경오염방지면에서 재자원화 처리가 필수적이며 정확한 재자원화 물질흐름의 분석이 요구되고 있는 실정이다. 이러한 관점에서 2008년 1월부터 실시한 "전기 전자제품 및 자동차의 자원순환에 관한 법률" 중에서 E-waste와 관련된 법률내용의 골자, 리싸이클링시스템, 리싸이클링현황, E-waste 배출량 추정과 물질흐름 및 PCB의 경제학을 논하였다. 그리고 현시점에서 한국의 E-waste 재자원화산업을 약술하였다. Waste electrical and electronic equipment(WEEE or E-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste stream in Korea. The proper management of such equipment has become of major concern for solid waste professionals because of the large growth of the waste stream and the presence of a myriad of toxic materials with in it. In this paper in order to review the recycling system and recycling industries of the E-waste in Korea, the main frame concerning recycling of "Act on the Resources Recycling of Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment(WEEE) and End-of-life vehicles", recycling system, current recycling status, estimation of the E-waste generation, material flow of the E-waste, economics of PCB and recycling industries of the E-waste were surveyed.

Aqueous metal recovery techniques from e-scrap: Hydrometallurgy in recycling

Waste of electric–electronic equipment (WEEE) with an annual growth rate of about 3–5% is the fastest growing waste stream in municipal wastes. Notwithstanding their environmental pollution potential, waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) with their high content of base and precious metals, in particular, are regarded as a potential secondary resource when compared with ores. For the recovery of metals from WEEE, various treatment options based on conventional physical, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes are available. These process options with particular reference to hydrometallurgical processes were reviewed in this study. With their relatively low capital cost, reduced environmental impact (e.g. no hazardous gases/dusts), potential for high metal recoveries and suitability for small scale applications, hydrometallurgical processes are promising options for the treatment of WEEE. Since the metals are present in native form and/or as alloys, an oxidative leaching process is required for the effective extraction of base and precious metals of interest. A two-stage process based on oxidative acid leaching of base metals (Cu in particular) followed by leaching of precious metals using cyanide, thiosulfate, thiourea or halide as lixiviant(s) can be suitably developed for the hydrometallurgical treatment of WEEE. However, further research is required to develop new, cost effective and environmentally friendly processes and/or refine existing ones for leaching and, in particular, downstream processes.

Investigation of Lateral Die Crack Failure at Reliability Test

"Goes Green & Copper", is the strategy to introduce 1) environmentally friendly materials to meet RoHS (Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances) & WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) requirements and 2) Cu wires for superior electrical, mechanical & intermetallics properties compared to Au wires. A complete package level qualification was planned to assess the reliability performaces in discrete packages. This paper will discuss in details on investigation of lateral die crack failure during reliability. Process & materials investigation revealed that interaction of leadframe paddle construction, die attach method, die construction & mold compound factors play important role in aggravating lateral die crack. FEA (finite element analysis) was performed to understand the thermo-mechanical stress distribution within the die & package. Re-qualification was performed & reliability results showed that lateral die crack failure could be eliminated with proper combination of BOM selection.

Optimization of Precious Metal Recovery from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Boards

Recovering noble metals from Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) will provide an additional income within the disposal process of end-of-life electronic devices. Generally, the recycling process starts with the manual disman-tling of different devices and with sorting of the subdivided products into useful and hazardous materials. A sample of about 21 tonnes of WEEE was dismantled in 14 days to remove Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) that were about 5% weight of the whole sample. Computer PCBs proved to contain the 96% of all the gold present in all types of PCBs of the sample. Computer PCBs were manually dismantled to obtain the easy-to-remove components of the board, namely, the integrated circuits and the processors, which were about 13% weight of the board and 0.1% weight of the whole WEEE sample and contained about 91% of the gold present in the whole board with an average concentration of 2400 μg/g