Open AccessWithdrawn article - Microwave assisted leaching and electrochemical recovery of copper from printed circuit boards of computer waste
Author(s) -
R.C. Ivănuş,
D. Ivănuş,
F. Călmuc
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
epj web of conferences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2101-6275
pISSN - 2100-014X
DOI - 10.1051/epjconf/20100614001
Subject(s) - printed circuit board , copper , leaching (pedology) , microwave , electrochemistry , engineering , waste management , materials science , environmental science , electrical engineering , telecommunications , metallurgy , physics , electrode , soil science , soil water , quantum mechanics
Due to the rapid technological progress, the replacement of electronic equipment is very often necessary, leading to huge amounts that end up as waste. In addition, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) contains metals of high commercial value and others that are supposed to be hazardous for the environment. Consequently, WEEE could be considered as a significant source for recovery of nonferrous metals. Among these wastes, computers appear to be distinctive, as far as further exploitation is concerned. The most ″useful″ parts of the computers are the printed circuit boards that contain many metals of interest. A study on microwave assisted electronic scrap (printed circuit boards of computer waste – PCBs) leaching was carried out with a microwave hydrothermal reactor. The leaching was conducted with thick slurries (50-100 g/L). The leaching media is a mixed solution of CuCl2 and NaCl. Preliminary electrolysis from leaching solution has investigated the feasibility of electrodeposition of copper. The results were discussed and compared with the conventional leaching method and demonstrated the potential for selective extraction of copper from PCBs