Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling

Aqueous Recovery Methods

Francesco Vegliò, Ionela Birloaga, Francesco Vegliò, Ionela Birloaga

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780081020586
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Water Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling: Aqueous Recovery Methods provides data regarding the implementation of aqueous methods of processing of WEEEs at the industrial level. Chapters explore points-of-view of worldwide researchers and research project managers with respect to new research developments and how to improve processing technologies. The text is divided into two parts, with the first section addressing the new research regarding the hydrometallurgical procedures adopted from minerals processing technologies. Other sections cover green chemistry, bio-metallurgy applications for WEEE treatment and the current developed aqueous methods at industrial scale. A conclusion summarizes existing research with suggestions for future actions.

• Provides a one-stop reference for hydrometallurgical processes of metal recovery from WEEE
• Includes methods presented through intended applications, including waste printed circuit boards, LCD panels, lighting and more
• Contains suggestions and recommendations for future actions and research prospects

1

WEEE characterization, division, and regulation

Ionela Birloaga and Francesco Vegliò, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy

Abstract

Within this chapter, considering the literature data, the main characteristics of all the WEEEs are provided. This was rigorously performed using different data source. In addition, the current legislation has been analyzed and presented within this chapter. Was shown that in the heterogeneous composition of these waste, both dangerous and valuable elements are present. These can be considered as important secondary resource to supply the current deficit for the new products manufacturing.

Keywords

Waste electrical and electronic equipment; metals; regulation

1.1 Introduction

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), as it is defined in the European Directive, represents electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) which at the end of service becomes waste, along with all its components, subassemblies, and consumables. A more general definition of this is “any appliance using an electric power supply that has reached its end-of-life.” Moreover, another suitable definition of this kind of waste was provided by The Step Initiative as follows “E-waste represent a term used to cover items of all the electronic and electrical equipment and its parts that have been discarded by the owner as waste without the intention of re-use” [1]. This waste is considered to be the most complex as it has a variety of products (cover TVs, computers, mobile phones, white goods (fridges, washing machines, cookers, etc.), home entertainment and stereo systems, toys, toasters, kettles, etc.) with different components which have in their structure poisonous substances and they are also the fastest-growing sector of all municipal solid wastes. Moreover, with the continuous innovations in the technical industries, these devices have become smaller and even more complex in shape. According to Hagelüken [2]: “Recycling of consumer products and some industrial products is much more than metallurgy and requires a complete chain, starting with collection, sorting, and dismantling/preprocessing to separate components containing valuable metals or to upgrade relevant fractions for subsequent metallurgical end-processing.” It is known that this waste generation has shown the greatest increase year on year. A suitable estimation on the amount produced was provided within the project UNU ADDRESS [3]. According to its results, between 1990 and 2010 the WEEE volume put onto the market went from 19.5 million tonnes to over 54 million tonnes and was expected to increase to over 75 million tonnes in 2015. Moreover, the United Nations University also offers precise figures on WEEE generation within the Global E-Waste monitor. According to their data, in 2014, 41.8 million metric tonnes of e-waste were discarded globally and the generation of over 50 million metric tonnes was predicted for 2018 [4]. In order to handle this problem, various regulations have been adopted globally. In order to highlight this legislation, the division of this waste and also its characterization into both hazardous and valuable content are presented within this chapter.

1.2 WEEE legislation, division, and characterization by hazardous content

The first action regarding waste legislation under the name the “Basel Convention” was first adopted in 1989 by the United Nations (UN) [5]. This had at its core the aim of managing the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal at a worldwide level. Furthermore, the environmental group, The Basel Action Network, was formed and currently, alongside Greenpeace, realizes documentation regarding WEEE transboundary movement within developed countries and environmental contamination. Also in 1989, the European Commission developed waste management policies that favor the prevention of waste creation, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal [6]. Based on consideration of this, the European Union adopted in 2003 the first directive regarding WEEE. Within this first EU Directive on WEEE (2002/96/EC) [7], there are 10 categories of WEEE included, namely:

1. 1. Large household appliances (refrigerators; freezers; other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation, and storage of food; washing machines; clothes dryers; dishwashing machines; cooking; electric stoves; electric hot plates; microwaves; other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food; electric heating appliances; electric radiators; other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture; electric fans; air conditioner appliances; other fanning, exhaust ventilation, and conditioning equipment);
2. 2. Small household appliances (vacuum cleaners; carpet sweepers; other appliances for cleaning; appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving, and other processing for textiles; irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling, and other care of clothing; toasters; fryers; grinders, coffee machines, and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages; electric knives; appliances for haircutting, hair drying, toothbrushing, shaving, massage, and other body care appliances; clocks, watches, and equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating, or registering time; scales);
3. 3. Information technology and telecommunications equipment (mainframes; minicomputers; printer units; personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen, and keyboard included); laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen, and keyboard included); notebook computers; notepad computers; printers; copying equipment; electrical and electronic typewriters; pocket and desk calculators; other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation, or communication of information by electronic means; user terminals and systems; facsimile; Telex; telephones; pay telephones; cordless telephones; cellular telephones; answering systems; other products or equipment for transmitting sound, images, or other information by telecommunication);
4. 4. Consumer equipment (radio sets; TV sets; video cameras; video recorders; hi-fi recorders; audio amplifiers; musical instruments; other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and images other than by telecommunication);
5. 5. Lighting equipment (luminaires for fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households; straight fluorescent lamps; compact fluorescent lamps; high-intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal; halide lamps; low-pressure sodium lamps; other lighting or equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with the exception of filament bulbs);
6. 6. Electrical and electronics tools (drills; saws; sewing machines; equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending, or similar processing of wood, metal, and other materials; tools for riveting, nailing, or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws, or similar uses; tools for welding, soldering, or similar uses; equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing, or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substances by other means; tools for mowing or other gardening activities);
7. 7. Toys and leisure and sports equipment (electric trains or car racing sets; handheld video game consoles; video games; computers for biking, diving, running, rowing, etc.; sports equipment with electric or electronic components; coin slot machines);
8. 8. Medical equipment systems (radiotherapy equipment; cardiology; dialysis; pulmonary ventilators; nuclear medicine; laboratory equipment for in vitro diagnosis; analyzers; freezers; fertilization tests; other appliances for detecting, preventing, monitoring, treating, or alleviating illness, injury, or disability);
9. 9. Monitoring and control instruments (smoke detectors; heating regulators; thermostats; measuring, weighing, or adjusting appliances for household or as laboratory equipment; other monitoring and control instruments used in industrial installations (e.g., in control panels));
10. 10. Automatic dispensers (automatic dispensers for hot drinks; automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans; automatic dispensers for solid products; automatic dispensers for money; all appliances that automatically deliver all kinds of products).

However, according to the study conducted by Bridgwater and Anderson [8], there is no practical reason to have a skip for each of the 10 different categories of WEEE and, therefore, they have recommended dividing WEEE into 5 categories, namely:

1. 1. Refrigeration equipment;
2. 2. Other large household appliances;
3. 3. Equipment containing CRTs;
4. 4. Linear and compact fluorescent tubes;
5. 5. All other WEEE.

The United Nations University published in 2007 [9] a report which had as its main core a revision of the Directive. Within their report, the breakdown of WEEE categories was established and it was presented as follows:

• 1A—Large household appliance—27.8%;
• 1B—cooling and freezing equipment—17.7%;
• 1C—Large household appliance (smaller items)—3.6%;
• 2—Small household appliance—7%;
• 3A—IT and telecom (excluding CRTs)—8%;
• 3B—CRT monitors—8.3%;
• 3C—LCD monitors—0.0%;
• 4A—Consumer electronics (excluding CRTs)—7.8%;
• 4B—CRT TVs—13.3%;
• 4C—Flat panel TVs—0.0%;
• 5A—Lighting equipment (lu...