Showing papers on "Electronic waste published in 2022"

Electronic Waste Reduction Through Devices and Printed Circuit Boards Designed for Circularity

Abstract: The development of printed circuit boards (PCBs) has so far followed a traditional linear economy value chain, leading to high volumes of waste production and loss of value at the end-of-life. Consequentially, the electronics industry requires a transition to more sustainable practices. This review article presents an overview of the potential solutions and new opportunities that may arise from the greater use of emerging sustainable materials and resource-efficient manufacturing. A brief contextual summary about how the international management of waste PCBs (WPCBs) and legalization have evolved over the past 20 years is presented along with a review of the existing materials used in PCBs. The environmental and human health assessments of these materials relative to their usage with PCBs are also explained. This enables the identification of which ecofriendly materials and new technologies will be needed to improve the sustainability of the industry. Following this, a comprehensive analysis of existing WPCB processing is presented. Finally, a detailed review of potential solutions is provided, which has been partitioned by the use of emerging sustainable materials and resource-efficient manufacturing. It is hoped that this discussion will transform existing manufacturing facilities and inform policies, which currently focus on waste management, toward waste reduction and zero waste.

A comprehensive review on the recycling of discarded printed circuit boards for resource recovery

Abstract: Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are an essential and central component of electronic waste. The rapid depletion of natural resources, massive generation of end-of-life PCBs and inherently metal-loaded values inevitably call for recycling and recovery. This review critically discusses the systematic and sequential processes adopted for PCB metallic recoveries via physical, pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and combined technologies. Pre-treatments play a decisive and significant role in upgradation and efficient metal extraction. A novel combination of different pre-treatments and hybrid thermal-chemical routes are often reported for improved separation efficiency and performance. Selective recovery (using solvent extraction, precipitation, polymer inclusion membrane, adsorption, ion exchange) of high purity product from multi-elemental leach solution has recently gained interest and is reviewed. Current recycling techniques at a commercial scale are preferably based on pyrometallurgy (smelting-refining), where electronic waste is only a fraction of the total feed stream. Electronic components such as monolithic ceramic capacitors, tantalum capacitors, integrated circuits, and central processing units mounted on the PCBs are important due to precious metals' presence. The futuristic recycling perspective should treat base and precious metal-rich components separately with minimal environmental effect, end product usage, and maximum economic benefit. Sustainable processing routes for converting discarded PCBs into value-added products should also be attempted, as amplified in this review. An integrated, definite framework for full resource recovery from waste PCBs was proposed.

Electronic-Waste-Driven Pollution of Liquid Crystal Monomers: Environmental Occurrence and Human Exposure in Recycling Industrial Parks.

Abstract: Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) may be released into the environment, especially in electronic waste (e-waste) recycling industrial parks with a high pollution risk. However, little has been known about the environmental release and human exposure to LCMs until now. Herein, a total of 45 LCMs were detected in LCDs of commonly used smartphones and computers by high-resolution mass spectrometry with suspect screening analysis. Fluorinated biphenyls and their analogs were the dominant LCMs. Based on available standards of the screening results and previous studies, 55 LCMs were quantified in samples from an e-waste recycling industrial park in Central China. The LCMs were frequently detected in outdoor dust (n = 43), workshop #1 indoor dust (n = 53), and hand (n = 43) and forehead wipes (n = 43), with median concentrations of 6950 ng/g, 67,400 ng/g, 46,100 ng/m2, and 62,100 ng/m2, respectively. The median estimated daily intake values of the LCMs via dust ingestion and dermal absorption were 48.3 and 16.5 ng/kg body weight/day, respectively, indicating a high occupational exposure risk of these compounds. In addition, 16 LCMs were detected in the serum of eight elderly people (≥60 years old) with over 5 years of experience in e-waste dismantling operations, resulting in a total concentration range of 3.9-26.3 ng/mL.

Electronic Waste: A critical assessment on the unimaginable growing pollutant, legislations and environmental impacts

Abstract: Electronic waste is an indirect and unimaginable waste which make adverse effects on the human, animals and environment by polluting the natural resources like air, soil and water. Accumulation and contamination of e-waste for a longer period may harshly affect the environmental resources. India and China are the largest consumers of electronic gadgets at the same time they are responsible for an increase in the waste electrical and electronic equipment. Therefore, this review article mainly focuses on the detailed explanation of the e-waste management system includes the recycling process and its effects in India. The uniqueness of this review article lies in the discussion of legal instruments and awareness programs in India at various periods of time. Also, it provides sufficient knowledge to the readers in various aspects of increasing e-waste and its controlling methods. As a result, it gives adequate information for reducing the utilization of e-product in consumer-side and control measures on the manufacturer-side. In addition to that, it will be helpful to the policymakers who are involving in framing the future policy of e-waste in India.

Effective utilization of e-waste plastics and glasses in construction products - a review and future research directions

Abstract: The exponential development of the electronic industry and changes in people's lifestyle have increased the discarding rate of waste electronic appliances and electrical equipments rapidly. The disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a serious challenge to developing and developed countries as toxic substances and heavy metals present in e-waste could harm human health and the atmosphere. From the perspective of environmental concerns, it is necessary to properly dispose or reuse e-waste in any forms to prevent pollution. In recent years, a growing number of studies are primarily associated with utilization of e-waste as construction materials. This paper provides a critical and comprehensive review of different types of e-waste which can be utilized as source material in the form of binder, fine/coarse aggregate, and fibre in the mortar, concrete, and precast products. More specifically, this review highlights the positive aspects, future research needs, and limitations of using e-waste in construction. Overall, it is suggested that e-waste offers huge potential benefits when it is utilized in construction products, thereby reduces e-waste management problems and saves the earth from environmental pollution.

E-waste in Information and Communication Technology Sector: Existing scenario, management schemes and initiatives

Abstract: The expeditious developments in technology along with the demand for a high-standard living have resulted in massive production of electronic gadgets, which eventually lead to the generation of huge quantities of obsolescence. With the exponential expanding output of computer hardware, efficient disposal of the electronic waste (E-waste) generated by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector has become a serious concern. The ICT sector generates a major amount of E-waste, but its management strategies are not well defined. The present study explored the current status, challenges, and initiatives faced by the ICT sector in handling E-waste. Thereby, a framework of use case diagram has been put forth to develop a web-based model for recycling companies for solving E-waste recycling issues. This review also described the management strategies adopted by various ICT and electronic companies that have faced the challenge to mitigate the problems associated with E-waste.

A review of the recent development, challenges, and opportunities of electronic waste (e-waste)

Abstract: Abstract This study reviews recent developments, challenges, and the prospect of electronic waste (e-waste). Various aspects of e-waste, including collection, pre-treatment, and recycling, are discussed briefly. It is found that Europe is the leading collector of e-waste, followed by Asia, America, Oceania, and Africa. The monetary worth of e-waste raw materials is estimated to be $57.0 billion. However, only $10.0 billion worth of e-waste is recycled and recovered sustainably, offsetting 15.0 million tonnes (Mt) of CO 2 . The major challenges of e-waste treatment include collection, sorting and inhomogeneity of waste, low energy density, prevention of further waste, emission, and cost-effective recycling. Only 78 countries in the world now have e-waste related legislation. Such legislation is not effectively implemented in most regions. Developing countries like south-eastern Asia and Northern Africa have limited or no e-waste legislation. Therefore, country-specific standards and legislation, public awareness, effective implementation, and government incentives for developing cost-effective technologies are sought to manage e-waste, which will play an important role in the circular economy.

A Tale of Two Mice: Sustainable Electronics Design and Prototyping

Abstract: Electronics have become integral to all aspects of life and form the physical foundation of computing; however electronic waste (e-waste) is among the fastest growing global waste streams and poses significant health and climate implications. We present a design guideline for sustainable electronics and use it to build a functional computer mouse with a biodegradable printed circuit board and case. We develop an end-to-end digital fabrication process using accessible maker tools to build circuits on biodegradable substrates that reduce embodied carbon and toxic waste. Our biodegradable circuit board sends data over USB at 800 kbps and generates 12 MHz signals without distortion. Our circuit board dissolves in water (in 5.5 min at 100 °C, 5 hrs at 20 °C) and we successfully recover and reuse two types of chips after dissolving. We also present an environmental assessment showing our design reduces the environmental carbon impact (kg CO2e) by 60.2% compared to a traditional mouse.

What gets measured gets managed – does it? Uncovering the waste electrical and electronic equipment flows in the European Union

Abstract: Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is valued for its usability, generating an important waste stream, but overall information on their flows through society is generally not available. Data on End-of-Life (EoL) flows is scattered, unstructured, with varying classifications and formats, and uncertain levels of data quality and availability. This provides a big challenge of a structured mapping of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) flows, both officially reported as collected and complementary flows (the term refers to all flows not documented at a national level via designated official compliance schemes). To address these issues, a model quantitatively describing the WEEE flows has been developed based on the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/699 and WEEE Directive collection targets. Consequently, it evaluates the impacts of WEEE Directive policies that have been adopted in the past. The model is applied to the EU Member States, as well as Great Britain, Norway, and Switzerland, for the reference year of 2018. The results show that about 9.7 Mt of WEEE was generated, whereas roughly 5.0 Mt were collected. The analysis shows that a significant amount of waste (4.7 Mt) was not properly collected and recycled. Of the total amount of complementary flows, the majority, approx. 1.1 Mt was in complementary recycling (mixed metal scrap). Moreover, the obtained results provide an insight to improve collection targets through multidimensional drivers, i.e., economic policies, legal framework, and sustainability approach that are needed to be set in waste management.

Effective utilization of e-waste plastics and glasses in construction products - a review and future research directions

Abstract: The exponential development of the electronic industry and changes in people's lifestyle have increased the discarding rate of waste electronic appliances and electrical equipments rapidly. The disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a serious challenge to developing and developed countries as toxic substances and heavy metals present in e-waste could harm human health and the atmosphere. From the perspective of environmental concerns, it is necessary to properly dispose or reuse e-waste in any forms to prevent pollution. In recent years, a growing number of studies are primarily associated with utilization of e-waste as construction materials. This paper provides a critical and comprehensive review of different types of e-waste which can be utilized as source material in the form of binder, fine/coarse aggregate, and fibre in the mortar, concrete, and precast products. More specifically, this review highlights the positive aspects, future research needs, and limitations of using e-waste in construction. Overall, it is suggested that e-waste offers huge potential benefits when it is utilized in construction products, thereby reduces e-waste management problems and saves the earth from environmental pollution.