title: Environmental risk related to specific processes during scrap computer recycling and disposal.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to achieve a better understanding of the generation of toxic chemicals related to specific processes in scrap computer recycling and disposal, such as thermal recycling of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and the landfilling or dumping of cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Tube furnace pyrolysis was carried out to simulate different thermal treatment conditions for the identification of the by-products and potential environmental risk from thermal recycling ofPCBs. The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and a column test were used to study the leaching characteristics of lead from waste CRT glass, which is one of the most important environmental concerns arising from the disposal of e-waste. The results indicate that more attention should be paid to the benzene series when recycling PCBs under thermal conditions, especially for workers without any personal protection equipment. The impact of immersion on the leaching of lead from CRT leaded glass was more effective than the impact of washing only by acid rain. Thus when waste leaded glass has to be stored for some reason, the storage facility should be dry.
authors: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. jinhui@tsinghua.edu.cn
authors: Jinhui
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Pixing
authors: P
authors: Shi
authors: Hongshan
authors: H
authors: Shan
authors: Yijun
authors: Y
authors: Xie
mesh_terms: D055984:Cathode Ray Tube; D003201:Computers; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D059027:Recycling; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls