Chemical and biological extraction of metals present in E waste: A hybrid technology.

Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the emerging problems in developed and developing countries worldwide. It comprises of a multitude of components with valuable materials, some containing toxic substances, that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. Previous studies show that India has generated 0.4 million tons of e-waste in 2010 which may increase to 0.5 to 0.6 million tons by 2013–2014. Coupled with lack of appropriate infrastructural facilities and procedures for its disposal and recycling have posed significant importance for e-waste management in India. In general, e-waste is generated through recycling of e-waste and also from dumping of these wastes from other countries. More of these wastes are ending up in dumping yards and recycling centers, posing a new challenge to the environment and policy makers as well. In general electronic gadgets are meant to make our lives happier and simpler, but the toxicity it contains, their disposal and recycling becomes a health nightmare. Most of the users are unaware of the potential negative impact of rapidly increasing use of computers, monitors, and televisions. This review article provides a concise overview of India’s current e-waste scenario, namely magnitude of the problem, environmental and health hazards, current disposal, recycling operations and mechanisms to improve the condition for better environment.

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Electronic waste – an emerging threat to the environment of urban India

A roadmap for development of sustainable E-waste management system in India.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) represent one of the most complicated and valuable components in electric and electronic equipment (EEE). Waste PCBs (WPCBs) contain more than 40 kinds of metals with a wide and variable range of concentrations, such as environmentally harmful metals (e.g. Pb, Cr, As, Cd and Hg) and others of economic value (e.g. Cu, Sn, Au, Ag and Pd). Recovery of metals from WPCBs is of great importance for both environmental protection and resource re-utilization. In contrast to metal recovery from natural resources, these secondary resources have to be essentially stripped completely of its harmful metallic content before the remaining plastic substrate can be disposed, charred or incinerated. Hydrometallurgy has been successfully used for metals recovery from primary and secondary resources around the world, owing to its easily controlled process and high recovery rates at relatively low costs, and a number of researches using various hydrometallurgical methods for metals recovery from WPCBs has been published each year since 2002. This study provides an up-to-date review of the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from WPCBs and gives perspectives of this particular area, which is expected to provide an insight for the selection of suitable hydrometallurgical leaching and purification methods and to point out the novel and potential technologies that would be the future focuses of this area.

Hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs): Current status and perspectives – A review

An investigation into e-waste flows in India

This paper attempts to make an assessment and policy recommendation for the Indian perspective through a cross-national review of current practice and policy. It also addresses in a transition economy with some reference to policies and practices in other transition economies. It has been shown that existing Hazardous Waste Rules could overturn the necessity of a separate national legislation dealing with e-waste alone after it is being configured to accommodate e-waste for its management in India. The regulatory approach proposed could serve as a model or at least a starting point for other transition countries that may not be so far along as India with respect to management of e-waste.

A regulatory approach for e-waste management: a cross-national review of current practice and policy with an assessment and policy recommendation for the Indian perspective

Amitava Bandyopadhyay

Papers

A regulatory approach for e-waste management: a cross-national review of current practice and policy with an assessment and policy recommendation for the Indian perspective