Electric electronic waste

Electrical and electronic waste can be successfully recovered by pyrolysis following a suitable amount of separation. It has been demonstrated that by selecting the correct processing parameters, any halogenated hydrocarbons present are satisfactorily destroyed. Oil and gas from the pyrolysis are best used to heat the pyrolysis kiln. The metal containing pyrolysis coke can be treated in a secondary copper smelter without need for further processing. 

Handling, Management, and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Wastes ... 

The disposal of electrical and electronic wastes around the world has not been very satisfactory. The rapid evolution of electrical, electronic, information, and communication technologies leads to an increased production of such wastes in the future. It is our ideal objective that we do not dispose of... 

HANDLING, MANAGEMENT, AND DISPOSAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC WASTES THE SWITZERLAND EXPERIENCE... 

Fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamp ballasts, batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing thermostats, and other mercury-containing equipment are being singled out for special consideration. Specifically, these electrical and electronic wastes outfall into a regulated category called universal wastes in the United States. 

By a strict definition, these electrical and electronic wastes are hazardous. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, and almost all fluorescents fail the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) toxicity test for hazardous wastes. Fluorescent lamp ballasts manufactured in the mid-1980s contain polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a carcinogen most of these ballasts are still in service. Batteries can contain any of a number of hazardous materials, including cadmium (nickel-cadmium... 

All electrical and electronic wastes may be found to harbor components containing particularly hazardous substances. It is essential that these be removed (stripping of hazardous materials). Below are some examples of such components. Batteries and accumulators notably include the following ... 

Stripping of electrical and electronic waste appliances must be carried out properly. During the processing of waste appliances (e.g., in shredders), it is essential to avoid that components highly contaminated with hazardous substances end up in fractions that are intended for recycling. It is furthermore necessary to ensure that the disposal of treatment residues (e.g., shredder residues) is not impeded by the presence of hazardous substances. As a rule, components containing particularly hazardous substances are to be removed manually. Future disposal processes, such as pyrolysis, may allow recycling of appliances without prior removal of hazardous substances, in which case it will be possible to do without the disassembly of hazardous components.411... 

Wang, L.K., Recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic wastes, Proceedings of the 2004 Modem Engineering and Technology Seminar, Taipei, Taiwan, November 2004. 

In the past, product-related standards in the European waste law were rare. This changed with the triumphal success of everyday electronic gadgets and the associated increase in e-scrap. The EC Directive 2002/96/EC - better known as the WEEE directive - aimed to combat the increasing amount of e-waste from electrical and electronic devices [8]. Goal is the avoidance, reduction, and environment-friendly disposal of increasing amounts of electronic waste through extended producer responsibility. This goal has been hindered by a number of pollutants that are included in the devices (RISKCYCLE). 

Barba-Gutierrez Y, Adenso-Diaz B, Hopp M (2008) An analysis of some environmental consequences of European electrical and electronic waste regulation. Resour Conserv Recycl 52 481M95... 

The main aims of this chapter are to provide estimates for the amounts of pollutants emitted from processed electronic waste (e-waste) and assess the magnitudes of human exposure to these pollutants. Specifically in this chapter, e-waste is defined as the sum of discarded personal computers, electronic/electrical equipment, electronic entertainment devices, cell phones, television sets, and refrigerators. In another word, e-waste explicitly refers to electronics at their end of life cycle and disposed by end users rather than surplus electronics (brand new products). In addition, e-waste also does not include reusable (e.g., repairable electronics or second hand electronics) and secondary scraps (e.g., noble metals, plastics, and rubbers). 

In 2003, the European WEEE-Directive 2002/96/EG [5] was implemented to reduce the amount of electronic waste and foster reuse, recovery and recycling of electric and electronic equipment. Closely connected to this, the restriction of hazardous substances Directive 2002/95/EG [6] (RoHS) was adopted by the EC in 2003 with the aim to restrict the use of hazardous substances in the manufacture of electric and electronic products. 

This directive accompanies directive 2002/96/EC, also known as WEEE, which addresses the handling of wastes from electrical and electronic wastes. These wastes cover a wide range of electrical and electronic products from household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and microwaves to personal computers, cell phones to electrical toys, medical devices and electrical tools. As specified in Article 4 (1) of directive 2002/95/EC the following substances which are contained in all of the defined product groups have to be substituted from lJuly 2006on ... 

Through the mentioning in the preamble, the Parliament and the Council establish substitution as a guiding principle forthe directive. Given that the substances that are covered by this directive are well researched and evaluated (Preamble 7), both entities aim at protecting human and animal health as well as the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of electrical and electronic waste with the application of the Substitution Principle (Article 1). 

The handling of wastes in this case refers to the prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, disposal and the treatment of electrical and electronic wastes. 

Among the most frequently used nitrogen containing polymers in electrical, electronic, and automotive applications are PA and ABS. Pyrolysis proved to be a suitable method for recycling plastic waste. 

Liu, X., Tanaka, M., Matsui, Y. Electrical and electronic waste management in China progress and the barriers to overcome. Waste Management Research, 24 92-101 (2006). 

Morf, L. S., Tremp, J., et al. (2007) Metals, non-metals and PCB in electrical and electronic waste actual levels in Switzerland. Waste Management, 27(10) 1306-1316. 

Waste electrical electronic equipment (WEEE) is being selectively collected in an increasing number of E.U. countries, so that this stream can be considered available and harnessed. ASR is available at car shredding plants. 

In 1997, successful treatment tests were completed on electric and electronic waste with bromine-containing flame retardants. For this test, 50 tons of WEEE plastics were mixed with some 250 tons of DSD waste. 

Electrical and electronic devices are made utilizing several various types of plastic materials, thus when discarded their waste is difficult to recycle. The plastics employed in housing and other appliances are more or less homogeneous materials (among others PP, PVC, PS, HIPS, ABS, SAN, Nylon 6,6, the pyrolysis liquids of which have been discussed above). However, metals are embedded in printed circuit boards, switches, junctions and insulated wires, moreover these parts contain fire retardants in addition to support and filler materials. Pyrolysis is a suitable way to remove plastics smoothly from embedded metals in electrical and electronic waste (EEW), in addition the thermal decomposition products of the plastics may serve as feedstock or fuel. PVC, PBT, Nylon 6,6, polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene ether (PPO), epoxy and phenolic resins occur in these metal-containing parts of EEW. 

Plastics have become the material of choice in the modem world and their applications in the industrial field are continually increasing. Presently plastics are manufactured for various uses such as consumer packaging, wires, pipes, containers, bottles, appliances, electrical/electronic parts, compnters and automotive parts. Most post-consumer plastic products are discarded and end up as mixed plastic municipal waste. The disposal of this waste has become a major social concern. 

Because of the hazardous contents of these items and other electronic waste, they can cause health and environmental problems if not managed properly. Therefore, to address these problems the RoHS and WEEE Directives were put in place. The first WEEE Directive was enforced in Eebmary 2003. It provided collection plans, where consumers could return their electronic and electrical wastes free of charge. These plans aimed to increase the recycling and /or reuse of electronic equipment (that had been discarded). 

Some of the electronic waste groups include large and small household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, lighting equipment, toys, electrical tools, medical devices, and more. 

The work carried out at Karlsruhe has given further proof that mimicipal solid waste combustion is an ecologically acceptable and economically sound disposal route for typical amoimts of electrical and electronic waste containing brominated flame retardants . Some of the main conclusions of this work are ... 

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