1
|
Xia D, Lee C, Charpentier NM, Deng Y, Yan Q, Gabriel JCP. Drivers and Pathways for the Recovery of Critical Metals from Waste-Printed Circuit Boards. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2309635. [PMID: 38837685 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The ever-increasing importance of critical metals (CMs) in modern society underscores their resource security and circularity. Waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are particularly attractive reservoirs of CMs due to their gamut CM embedding and ubiquitous presence. However, the recovery of most CMs is out of reach from current metal-centric recycling industries, resulting in a flood loss of refined CMs. Here, 41 types of such spent CMs are identified. To deliver a higher level of CM sustainability, this work provides an insightful overview of paradigm-shifting pathways for CM recovery from WPCBs that have been developed in recent years. As a crucial starting entropy-decreasing step, various strategies of metal enrichment are compared, and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperspectral sensing is highlighted. Then, tailored metal recycling schemes are presented for the platinum group, rare earth, and refractory metals, with emphasis on greener metallurgical methods contributing to transforming CMs into marketable products. In addition, due to the vital nexus of CMs between the environment and energy sectors, the upcycling of CMs into electro-/photo-chemical catalysts for green fuel synthesis is proposed to extend the recycling chain. Finally, the challenges and outlook on this all-round upgrading of WPCB recycling are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Xia
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Carmen Lee
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Nicolas M Charpentier
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91191, France
| | - Yuemin Deng
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91191, France
- Ecologic France, 15 Avenue du Centre, Guyancour, 78280, France
| | - Qingyu Yan
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Jean-Christophe P Gabriel
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, LICSEN, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91191, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li XG, Gao Q, Jiang SQ, Nie CC, Zhu XN, Jiao TT. Review on the gentle hydrometallurgical treatment of WPCBs: Sustainable and selective gradient process for multiple valuable metals recovery. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119288. [PMID: 37864943 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The metal resource crisis and the inherent need for a low-carbon circular economy have driven the rapid development of e-waste recycling technology. High-value waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are an essential component of e-waste. However, WPCBs are considered hazardous to the ecosystem due to the presence of heavy metals and brominated organic polymers. Therefore, achieving the recycling of metals in WPCBs is not only a strategic requirement for building a green ecological civilization but also an essential guarantee for achieving a safe supply of mineral resources. This review systematically analyzes the hydrometallurgical technology of metals in WPCBs in recent years. Firstly, the different unit operations of pretreatment in the hydrometallurgical process, which contain disassembly, crushing, and pre-enrichment, were analyzed. Secondly, environmentally friendly hydrometallurgical leaching systems and high-value product regeneration technologies used in recent years to recover metals from WPCBs were evaluated. The leaching techniques, including cyanidation, halide, thiourea, and thiosulfate for precious metals, and inorganic acid, organic acid, and other leaching methods for base metals such as copper and nickel in WPCBs, were outlined, and the leaching performance and greenness of each leaching system were summarized and analyzed. Eventually, based on the advantages of each leaching system and the differences in chemical properties of metals in WPCBs, an integrated and multi-gradient green process for the recovery of WPCBs was proposed, which provides a sustainable pathway for the recovery of metals in WPCBs. This paper provides a reference for realizing the gradient hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from WPCBs to promote the recycling metal resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Guang Li
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
| | - Si-Qi Jiang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
| | - Chun-Chen Nie
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
| | - Xiang-Nan Zhu
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China.
| | - Tian-Tian Jiao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Galhoum AA, Akashi T, Linnolahti M, Hirvi JT, Al-Sehemi AG, Kalam A, Guibal E. Functionalization of poly(glycidylmethacrylate) with iminodiacetate and imino phosphonate groups for enhanced sorption of neodymium - sorption performance and molecular modeling. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2022.105389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
|
4
|
Wang R, Zhang Q, Zhan L, Xu Z. Urgency of technology and equipment upgrades in e-waste dismantling base: Pollution identification and emission reduction. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 308:119704. [PMID: 35792296 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) and inevitable pollution under current technology have always been a concern of people. Generation and release of pollutants in the recycling process of e-waste are closely related to processing technology and equipment. In this paper, the pollution characteristics of different functional areas and critical processing units in formal e-waste dismantling base have been studied systematically and comprehensively. The results showed that the overall pollutants concentration in crushing workshop and cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor disposing workshop are much higher than other functional areas. Screen-cone glass separation for CRT monitor was the processing unit with the greatest exposure risk and the hazard index (HI) of Pb was 4.60. Pollutant emission factor of the main processing units was calculated and the waste printed circuit board (WPCB) crushing was the most polluted unit. Appropriate improvements in technology and equipment can effectively reduce the generation and release of pollutants. Some reasonable prospects about intelligent equipment and special technologies were proposed for e-waste disposal. All the results provided theoretical and data support for pollution control and technology upgrade of the formal e-waste dismantling base.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, China
| | - Lu Zhan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, China.
| | - Zhenming Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Faraji F, Golmohammadzadeh R, Pickles CA. Potential and current practices of recycling waste printed circuit boards: A review of the recent progress in pyrometallurgy. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115242. [PMID: 35588669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, a substantial amount of e-waste including waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) has been produced and is accumulating worldwide. More recently, the rate of production has increased significantly, and this trend has raised some serious concerns regarding the need to develop viable recycling methods. The presence of other materials in the WPCBs, such as ceramics and polymers, and the multi-metal nature of WPCBs all contribute to the increased complexity of any recycling process. Among the viable techniques, pyrometallurgy, with the inherent ability to process the waste independent of its composition, is a promising candidate for both rapid and large-scale treatment. In the present study, firstly, the principles of the pyrometallurgical methods for WPCB recycling are discussed. Secondly, the different unit operations of thermochemical pretreatment including incineration, pyrolysis, and molten salt processing are reviewed. Thirdly, the smelting processes for the recovery of metals from WPCBs, as well as the issues surrounding slag formation and subsequent treatment are explained. Fourthly, alternative methods for the recovery of polymers and ceramics, in addition to metal recycling, are elucidated. Fifthly, emission control techniques and the potential for energy recovery are evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fariborz Faraji
- The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Rabeeh Golmohammadzadeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3200, Australia
| | - Christopher A Pickles
- The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu J, Liu D, Lee C, Feydi P, Chapuis M, Yu J, Billy E, Yan Q, Gabriel JCP. Efficient Electrocatalyst Nanoparticles from Upcycled Class II Capacitors. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12152697. [PMID: 35957128 PMCID: PMC9370706 DOI: 10.3390/nano12152697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To move away from fossil fuels, the electrochemical reaction plays a critical role in renewable energy sources and devices. The anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is always coupled with these reactions in devices but suffers from large energy barriers. Thus, it is important for developing efficient OER catalysts with low overpotential. On the other hand, there are large amounts of metals in electronic waste (E-waste), especially various transition metals that are promising alternatives for catalyzing OER. Hence, this work, which focuses on upcycling Class II BaTiO3 Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors, of which two trillion were produced in 2011 alone. We achieved this by first using a green solvent extraction method that combined the ionic liquid Aliquat® 336 and hydrochloride acid to recover a mixed solution of Ni, Fe and Cu cations, and then using such a solution to synthesize high potential catalysts NiFe hydroxide and NiCu hydroxide for OER. NiFe-hydroxide has been demonstrated to have faster OER kinetics than the NiCu-hydroxide and commercial c-RuO2. In addition, it showed promising results after the chronopotentiometry tests that outperform c-RuO2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Xu
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- Nuclear Chemistry & Separation and Purification Technology Laboratory, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Daobin Liu
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
| | - Carmen Lee
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
| | - Pierre Feydi
- LITEN, Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Marlene Chapuis
- LITEN, Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Jing Yu
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Emmanuel Billy
- LITEN, Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Qingyu Yan
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel
- SCARCE Laboratory, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- LICSEN, NIMBE, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gandon-Ros G, Aracil I, Gomez-Rico MF, Conesa JA. Debromination and Reusable Glass Fiber Recovery from Large Waste Circuit Board Pieces in Subcritical Water Treatment. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:25422-25432. [PMID: 35910185 PMCID: PMC9330217 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The great economic, social, and environmental interest that favors an effective management of the recycling of waste printed circuit boards (WCBs) encourages research on the improvement of processes capable of mitigating their harmful effects. In this work, the debromination of large WCBs was first performed through a hydrothermal process employing potassium carbonate as an additive. A total of 32 runs were carried out at 225 °C, various CO3 2-/Br- anionic ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, and 6:1, treatment times from 30 to 360 min, proportion of submerged WCBs in the liquid of 100, 50, and 25% that corresponded with the use of three WCB sizes of 20 mm × 16.5 mm, 20 mm × 33 mm, and 80 mm × 33 mm, respectively, and solid/liquid ratios of 1:2 and 1:1 g/mL without other metallic catalysts. A debromination efficiency of 50 wt % was reached at only 225 °C (limited by mechanical reasons) and 360 min, using a CO3 2-/Br- anionic ratio of 4:1 and a solid/liquid ratio of 1:2 for a large WCB with only 25% of its volume submerged in the liquid. This means conservation of water and energy compared to previous studies. A muffle furnace was used later to thermally treat a total of 101 debrominated samples, at constant temperature or following a temperature scaling program. An estimated decrease in resistance to rupture of glass fibers of only around 50% was accomplished by following a temperature scaling program up to 475 °C, obtaining clean glass fibers of large size. The simple techniques proposed to obtain reusable glass fibers from WCBs as large as the size of the reactor allows (as it might be in their original size) could significantly improve interest in the industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Gandon-Ros
- Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| | - Ignacio Aracil
- Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| | - María Francisca Gomez-Rico
- Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| | - Juan A Conesa
- Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| |
Collapse
|