Formation of PBDD/F from PBDE in electronic waste in recycling processes and under simulated extruding conditions.
The increasing volumes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Europe and developing economies demand for efficient disposal solutions. However, WEEE also contains toxic compounds and, therefore, there is a need for recycling technologies for WEEE that creates revenue without causing environmental harm. Among other fast developing economies, South Africa is tempting to make use of recycled plastic. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are additives used to protect plastic materials in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) against ignition. Some BFRs are known persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and some BFRs can be transformed into highly toxic compounds such as polybrominated dibenzofurans and dioxins (PBDD/Fs). In this study, the contents of critical BFRs, i.e. polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and highly toxic PBDD/Fs were measured in WEEE material from Switzerland and South Africa. The formation of PBDD/Fs has been observed in two South African recycling processes and under controlled laboratory conditions. Total PBDE-contents in the South African and Swiss plastic waste varied between 1×10(3) and 7×10(6) μg kg(-1). A few WEEE plastic fractions exceeded the RoHS limit of 1×10(6) μg kg(-1) for PBDEs and thus they could not be used for recycling products without special treatment. The total content of ∑PBDFs was around 1×10(3) μg kg(-1). Such contents in materials do not pose a risk for consumer under normal conditions. Workers at recycling plants might be at risk. The measured formation rates of PBDFs were between 2×10(-5) and 2×10(-4)∑PBDE(-1) min(-1).
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland.
Markus
M
Zennegg
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland.
Mathias
M
Schluep
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland; FHNW, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Institute for Biomass and Resource Efficiency, Steinackerstrasse 5, CH-5210 Windisch, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Streicher-Porte
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland; ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, CH-8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland.
Peter
P
Lienemann
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland.
Regula
R
Haag
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland. Electronic address: andreas.gerecke@empa.ch.
Andreas C
AC
Gerecke
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry; D059027:Recycling; D013019:South Africa; D013557:Switzerland
D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010969:Plastics
PBDD/F; PBDE; Recycling; Waste electrical and electronic equipment