Studies on the Content of Selected Technology Critical Elements (Germanium, Tellurium and Thallium) in Electronic Waste

Abstract

The article draws attention to the problem of the presence of metals: germanium (Ge), tellurium (Te), thallium (Tl), and others (Cd, Ba, Co, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) in selected waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). As a result of the growing demand for new technologies, the global consumption of TECs has also been increasing. Thus, the amount of metals in circulation, of which the impacts on the environment have not yet been fully understood, is constantly increasing. Due to the low content of these metals in WEEE, they are usually ignored during e-waste analyses. The main aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Ge, Te, and Tl (and other elements) in ground sieve fractions (1.0, 0.5, 0.2, and 0.1 mm) of selected electronic components (solar lamps, solar cell, LED TV screens, LCD screens, photoresistors, photodiodes, phototransistors) and to determine the possible tendency of the concentrations of these metals in fractions. This problem is particularly important because WEEE recycling processes (crushing, grinding, and even collection and transport operations) can lead to dispersion and migration of TCE pollutants into the environment. The quantitative composition of e-waste was identified and confirmed by ICP-MS, ICP-OES and SEM-EDS, and XRD analyses. It was found that Ge, Te, and Tl are concentrated in the finest fractions of ground e-waste, together with Cd and Cr, which may favor the migration of these pollutants in the form of dust during storage and processing of e-waste.

Heavy Metals, Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Phthalates, Glyphosate, Cordycepin, Alcohol, Drugs, and Herbs, Assessed for Liver Injury and Mechanistic Steps

“…This why thallium use in households has been forbidden in the US in 1965 and banned commercially in 1975 [199], a few countries subsequently also restricted its use [200]. Known as a historical environmental pollutant, thallium is found in the attic dust [109], while not analyzed in municipal solid waste landfills [68], but currently also detected in electronic waste [205], soil, water, and atmosphere [206], and a known contaminant in herbal medicine products [151] and edible plants [206]. In industry, thallium is used in the semiconductor branch, in optical lenses, and 201 Thallium chloride as one of its isotopes for cardiovascular scintigraphy to detect stenosing vascular heart disease [200].…”

“…Titanium is in common use worldwide [212] and a known historical pollutant found in attic dust [109] but data on its possible contamination are not available in solid waste landfills [68] or electronic waste [205]. At autopsy, titanium is found in some human organs including the liver [213] but there is overall lack of evidence that presence of titanium exerts major toxicity reaching the level of clinical relevance [212], except perhaps in patients with titanium implants and local complications [214].…”

Risk assessment of rare earth elements, antimony, barium, boron, lithium, tellurium, thallium and vanadium in teas

“…Thallium is used in semiconductor materials, photocells, infrared measuring devices and as a catalyst in various organic synthesis procedures. In some countries, it is also used for the production of pesticides (Willner et al, 2021 ). Tellurium is mainly applied in the production of cadmium telluride thin‐film solar cells, followed by thermo‐electrics (Willner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In some countries, it is also used for the production of pesticides (Willner et al, 2021 ). Tellurium is mainly applied in the production of cadmium telluride thin‐film solar cells, followed by thermo‐electrics (Willner et al, 2021 ). In the case of barium (Ba), it has been already evaluated that the industrial (e.g.…”

Sorption behavior and mechanisms of thallium to microplastics

“…In the past, Tl was used for the production of pesticides. In recent years, approximately 70% of Tl production is used in electronic devices (Willner et al, 2021).…”