| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
New Directions in Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, Recycling and Waste Minimization: An EPD Symposium in Honor of Patrick R. Taylor
|
| Presentation Title |
Nano-/Superfine Metallic Particles from Waste Printed Wiring Boards: A Cradle-to-gate Sustainability Assessment |
| Author(s) |
Haoyang He, Eric Schwartz, Oladele A Ogunseitan, Julie M Schoenung |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Haoyang He |
| Abstract Scope |
The recycling of electronic waste printed wiring boards (WPWBs) is facing great challenges due to their vast production volume and heterogeneity of material composition. Traditional management processes, including incineration and land disposal, generate toxic emissions and residues. Alternatively, the inherent abundance of useful materials in WPWBs makes “urban mining” of WPWBs increasingly attractive. Of particular interest is alternative pathways that could directly transform elements in WPWBs into advanced, functional, and value-added materials, such as nano-/superfine metallic particles. In this research, we conduct a cradle-to-gate sustainability assessment, including life cycle and chemical hazard assessments, to evaluate the environmental impacts and chemical hazards of six alternative technologies for producing nano-/superfine metallic particles from WPWBs: selective leaching, slurry electrolysis, emulsion membrane, high- and low-temperature thermal processing, and mechanical alloying. The outcome of this study informs strategies to improve the circular economy of WPWBs by exploring these specifically designed early-stage alternative pathways. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |