A novel approach for reducing toxic emissions during high temperature processing of electronic waste
- Centre of Excellence: Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667 (India)
- Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT), School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 (Australia)
- Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR), Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha (India)
Highlights: • Volatile heavy metals are generally present in electronic waste constituents. • Potentially toxic elements released during e-waste heat treatment. • Metal particulates/fumes in outgoing gases were removed by alumina adsorbent. • Pb, Sn, Cu and Zn particulates were successfully captured by alumina. •Toxicity of emissions from e-waste was reduced significantly in this approach. - Abstract: A novel approach is presented to capture some of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs), other particulates and emissions during the heat treatment of e-waste using alumina adsorbents. Waste PCBs from mobile phones were mechanically crushed to sizes less than 1 mm; their thermal degradation was investigated using thermo-gravimetric analysis. Observed weight loss was attributed to the degradation of polymers and the vaporization of organic constituents and volatile metals. The sample assembly containing PCB powder and adsorbent was heat treated at 600 °C for times ranging between 10 and 30 min with air, nitrogen and argon as carrier gases. Weight gains up to ∼17% were recorded in the adsorbent thereby indicating the capture of significant amounts of particulates. The highest level of adsorption was observed in N{sub 2} atmosphere for small particle sizes of alumina. SEM/EDS results on the adsorbent indicated the presence of Cu, Pb, Si, Mg and C. These studies were supplemented with ICP-OES analysis to determine the extent of various species captured as a function of operating parameters. This innovative, low-cost approach has the potential for utilization in the informal sector and/or developing countries, and could play a significant role in reducing toxic emissions from e-waste processing towards environmentally safe limits.
- OSTI ID:
- 22742088
- Journal Information:
- Waste Management, Vol. 64; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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