5.9 Industrial Applications of E-Waste Recycling
155
99.1% purity. Precious metals are recovered from the remaining residues through
electrorefining of anodes [20, 21].
Among biometallurgical processes, bioleaching has been a common practice for
the recovery of copper from mineral chalcocite (Cu 2 S) since 1980. The process is
mostly performed in Chile and Australia and the copper is leached by acid, forming
covellite (CuS), or by ferric iron formed from microbial oxidation of ferrous iron.
Bioleaching of refractory gold ores is operated in South Africa, Brazil and Australia.
The refractory gold ores are resistant to direct cyanidation processes. Therefore, the
decomposition of mineral sulfide matrix is necessary before the extraction of gold
[20].
Other recycling processes such as Pyrolysis of e-waste are mostly performed
within the laboratory. However, the Japan Electrical Cable Technology Center
(Jectec) has already started using pyrolysis in its plant on an industrial scale [17].
Alkali smelting has been only studied in the laboratory stage and there is no pilot or
industrial scale installation of this technology [12].
References
1. Arain AL et al (2020) Analysis of e-waste recycling behavior based on survey at a Midwestern
US University. Waste Manag 105:119–127
2. Forti V, Baldé CP, Kuehr R (2018) E-waste statistics: guidelines on classifications, reporting
and indicators, 2nd edn. United Nations University, ViE – SCYCLE, Bonn, Germany
3. Yang H, Zhang S, Ye W, Qin Y, Xu M, Han L (2020) Emission reduction benefits and efficiency
of e-waste recycling in China. Waste Manag 102:541–549
4. Islam A et al (2020) Advances in sustainable approaches to recover metals from e-waste-a
review. J Clean Prod vol 244
5. The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) (2019) A new circular vision for
electronics-time for a global reboot
6. https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronic-waste
7. Dias P, Bernardes AM, Huda N (2018) Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
management: an analysis on the Australian e-waste recycling scheme. J Clean Prod 197:750–
764
8. Vanderpol M (2014) Overview of E-waste management in Canada. Environ Canada Int E-waste
Manag Netw
9. Tanskanen P (2013) Management and recycling of electronic waste. Acta Mater 61(3):1001–
1011
10. Lucier CA, Gareau BJ (2020) Electronic waste recycling and disposal. In: Assessment and
management of radioactive and electronic waste
11. Namias J (2013) The future of electronic waste recycling in the United States: obstacles and
domestic solutions (Thesis), Columbia University
12. Ding Y, Zhang S, Liu B, Zheng H, chi Chang C, Ekberg C (2019) Recovery of precious metals
from electronic waste and spent catalysts: a review Resour Conserv Recycl 141:284–298
13. Alam ZF (2016) The assessment of the of e-waste management generated from the cellular
phones, laptops and personal computers in the Philippines. Manila J Sci 9:27–42
14. Kaya M (2016) Recovery of metals from electronic waste by physical and chemical recycling
processes. In: 18th international conference on waste management, recycling and environment
(ICWMRE 2016) proceeding part VII, pp 939–950
155
99.1% purity. Precious metals are recovered from the remaining residues through
electrorefining of anodes [20, 21].
Among biometallurgical processes, bioleaching has been a common practice for
the recovery of copper from mineral chalcocite (Cu 2 S) since 1980. The process is
mostly performed in Chile and Australia and the copper is leached by acid, forming
covellite (CuS), or by ferric iron formed from microbial oxidation of ferrous iron.
Bioleaching of refractory gold ores is operated in South Africa, Brazil and Australia.
The refractory gold ores are resistant to direct cyanidation processes. Therefore, the
decomposition of mineral sulfide matrix is necessary before the extraction of gold
[20].
Other recycling processes such as Pyrolysis of e-waste are mostly performed
within the laboratory. However, the Japan Electrical Cable Technology Center
(Jectec) has already started using pyrolysis in its plant on an industrial scale [17].
Alkali smelting has been only studied in the laboratory stage and there is no pilot or
industrial scale installation of this technology [12].
References
1. Arain AL et al (2020) Analysis of e-waste recycling behavior based on survey at a Midwestern
US University. Waste Manag 105:119–127
2. Forti V, Baldé CP, Kuehr R (2018) E-waste statistics: guidelines on classifications, reporting
and indicators, 2nd edn. United Nations University, ViE – SCYCLE, Bonn, Germany
3. Yang H, Zhang S, Ye W, Qin Y, Xu M, Han L (2020) Emission reduction benefits and efficiency
of e-waste recycling in China. Waste Manag 102:541–549
4. Islam A et al (2020) Advances in sustainable approaches to recover metals from e-waste-a
review. J Clean Prod vol 244
5. The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) (2019) A new circular vision for
electronics-time for a global reboot
6. https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronic-waste
7. Dias P, Bernardes AM, Huda N (2018) Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
management: an analysis on the Australian e-waste recycling scheme. J Clean Prod 197:750–
764
8. Vanderpol M (2014) Overview of E-waste management in Canada. Environ Canada Int E-waste
Manag Netw
9. Tanskanen P (2013) Management and recycling of electronic waste. Acta Mater 61(3):1001–
1011
10. Lucier CA, Gareau BJ (2020) Electronic waste recycling and disposal. In: Assessment and
management of radioactive and electronic waste
11. Namias J (2013) The future of electronic waste recycling in the United States: obstacles and
domestic solutions (Thesis), Columbia University
12. Ding Y, Zhang S, Liu B, Zheng H, chi Chang C, Ekberg C (2019) Recovery of precious metals
from electronic waste and spent catalysts: a review Resour Conserv Recycl 141:284–298
13. Alam ZF (2016) The assessment of the of e-waste management generated from the cellular
phones, laptops and personal computers in the Philippines. Manila J Sci 9:27–42
14. Kaya M (2016) Recovery of metals from electronic waste by physical and chemical recycling
processes. In: 18th international conference on waste management, recycling and environment
(ICWMRE 2016) proceeding part VII, pp 939–950