Electrolyte circulation: Metal recovery from waste printed circuit boards of mobile phones by alkaline slurry electrolysis

Qian, Lu; Wang, Jiqin; Chen, Shuyuan; Chen, Shaoqin; Hu, Ling; Qin, Jinchuan; Han, Yunhui; Zeng, Xin; Li, Yong; Guo, Qingbin; Chen, Mengjun; Shu, Jiancheng

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137223

Cited by 20 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It constitutes about 20-30% of the weight of a mobile phone (Nnorom and Osibanjo, 2011). Studies by Osibanjo (2011), Hahladakis (2013), Maragkos et al (2013), Ghodrat et al (2018, Adie et al (2019), Intrakamhaeng et al (2019), Gorewoda et al (2020), andLiang et al (2023) showed that the metal content of PWBs varies depending on the type of mobile phone and year of manufacture. Some of the metallic components of a typical PWB of a mobile phone include economic metals (Au, Ag, Cu), toxic metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd, Se, Cr), non-toxic metals (Fe, Pd, Zn, Ni, Ca, Mn), and non-metals such as Brominated flame retardants (Priya & Hait, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a related development, Priya and Hait (2018), Adie et al (2019), Gorewoda et al (2020) indicated that the toxicity potential of PWBs of mobile phone housed the largest quantity of toxic substances hence should be properly managed with caution. Improper handling can lead to pollution of the air, water, and soil (Kasper et al, 2011;Omole et al, 2015;Terena et al, 2017;Liang et al, 2023). Likewise, mobile phones are packed with economic metals as reported by Annamalai & Gurumurthy (2020), a ton of waste mobile phone contains 340g of gold, 140g of palladium, 130kg of copper, and 3.2g of silver.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Monitoring this concentration of critical metals (toxic and economic metals) in electrical equipment in Nigeria to study the Original Equipment Manufacture's (OEM's) behaviour is very critical as it is perceived that most new products arriving in Nigeria are substandard with a very short life span (Adie et al, 2019). The management of e-waste in Nigeria is still not appropriate and poorly managed as most of them ends up in the municipal waste stream, burnt at open dumps, surface water bodies, and background recycling leading to air pollution, discharge of toxic leachate into the environment contaminating groundwater and soil posing harm to humans, animals, and the environment (Priya & Hait, 2018;Annamalai & Gurumurthy, 2020;Liang et al, 2023). Studies by Nnorom and Osibanjo (2011), Kasper et al (2011), Dervišević et al (2013), Priya and Hait (2018), Adie et al (2019) established that the number of toxic metals such as lead exceeded RoHS Threshold limit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Metals in Printed Wiring Boards of Selected Discarded Mobile Phones in Nigeria

Adie,

Abimbola,

Aribisala

et al. 2024

ETSJ

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Obsolete mobile phones form a major component of the e-waste stream. The Printed wiring boards (PWBs) of mobile phones are packed with economic and toxic metals. Regulatory bodies such as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives regulate the amount of these toxic metals in electrical and electronic equipment. This study is aimed at evaluating selected critical metals present in PWBs of three popular brands of discarded mobile phones used in Nigeria to understudy the behaviour of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) regarding toxicity, economic potentials, and level of compliance with international initiatives by regulatory bodies to reduce the level of toxic metals in electronic equipment. PWBs obtained from 60 discarded mobile phones of 3 popular mobile phone brands used in Nigeria were chopped into smaller particles, extracted according to EPA 3050B method, and analysed using the Inductive Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry technique. It was observed that Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu, had the highest concentration range across all brands studied. Notable toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, Cr, and As have mean and standard deviation values of 0.43±0.38 mg/kg, 0.62±0.160 mg/kg, 5.16±1.06 mg/kg, and 84.97±13.83 mg/kg respectively. Economic metals: Cu, Ag, and Au had mean and standard deviation values of 80.37±16.89 mg/kg, 2.12±0.43 mg/kg, and 0.95±0.19 mg/kg respectively. Results from the study indicate that PWBs of mobile phones are a perfect secondary source of a large variety of metals vital for the recycling industry. Also, the low levels of toxic metals suggest that some OEMs are already adopting the 'design-for-environment' option. Therefore, PWBs studied seem eco-friendly; however, need to be handled with care as there are still some toxic metals of concern not determined in this study.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evaluation of Metals in Printed Wiring Boards of Selected Discarded Mobile Phones in Nigeria

Adie,

Abimbola,

Aribisala

et al. 2024

ETSJ

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show abstract

Introduction and Problem Analysis of Resource Recycling Industry

Khan,

Sajid,

Zhang

2023

Industrial Ecology

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Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

Oke,

Potgieter

2024

J Mater Cycles Waste Manag

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The improper disposal of discarded electronic and electrical equipment raises environmental and health concerns, spanning air pollution to water and soil contamination, underscoring the imperative for responsible management practises. This review explores the complex composition of discarded printed circuit boards (DPCBs), crucial components in electronic devices. Comprising substrates, electronic elements and solder, DPCBs showcase a heterogeneous structure with metal (30.0–50.0%) and non-metal (50.0–70.0%) fractions. Notably abundant in precious metals such as Au, Ag, and Pd, DPCBs offer a compelling avenue for recycling initiatives. The inclusion of heavy metals and flame retardants adds complexity, necessitating environmentally sound disposal methods. Ongoing research on smart disassembly, utilising 3D image recognition technology, underscores the importance of accurate identification and positioning of electronic components (ECs). The targeted approach of smart disassembly, centred on valuable components, highlights its significance, albeit with challenges in equipment costs and capacity limitations. In mechanical disassembly, techniques such as grinding and heat application are employed to extract ECs, with innovations addressing gas emissions and damage induced by overheating. Chemical disassembly methods, encompassing epoxy resin delamination and tin removal, present promising recovery options, whilst the integration of chemical and electrochemical processes shows potential. Efficient sorting, encompassing both manual and automated methods, is imperative post-disassembly, with smart sorting technologies augmenting accuracy in the identification and categorisation of ECs. In addition, explorations into NH3/NH4+ solutions for selective metal recovery underscore challenges and stress the necessity for meticulous process optimisation in environmentally sustainable PCB recycling. Challenges and future perspectives have also been expounded.

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Electrolyte circulation: Metal recovery from waste printed circuit boards of mobile phones by alkaline slurry electrolysis

Cited by 20 publications

References 40 publications

Evaluation of Metals in Printed Wiring Boards of Selected Discarded Mobile Phones in Nigeria

Evaluation of Metals in Printed Wiring Boards of Selected Discarded Mobile Phones in Nigeria

Introduction and Problem Analysis of Resource Recycling Industry

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

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