Batch leaching tests of motherboards to assess environmental contamination by bromine, platinum group elements and other selected heavy metals.
In this study, a batch leaching test was executed to evaluate the toxicity associated with chemicals contained in motherboards. The leaching solutions used were distilled water, nitric acid, acetic acid and synthetic acid rain solution. A total of 21 elements including Ag, As, Au, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hf, Ir, Mn, Ni, Os, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rd, Rh, Se, U and Zn were analyzed. In this study, the pH values of all the leachates fell within the range of 2.33-4.88. The highest concentrations of metals were obtained from the acid rain solution, whilst the maximum value of bromine was achieved with solution of acetic acid. Appreciable concentrations of platinum group elements were detected with concentrations around 3.45, 1.43, 1.21 and 22.19 µg L(-1) for Ir, Pd, Pt and Rh, respectively. The different leaching of the motherboards revealed the predominant presence of the toxic substances in the leached from the e-waste.
Instituto de Química de San Luis, INQUISAL (UNSL-CONICET), Chacabuco y Pedernera, San Luis, C.P. D5700BWQ, Argentina. Electronic address: almeida@unsl.edu.ar.
César
C
Almeida
Instituto de Química de San Luis, INQUISAL (UNSL-CONICET), Chacabuco y Pedernera, San Luis, C.P. D5700BWQ, Argentina.
Melina
M
Grosselli
Instituto de Química de San Luis, INQUISAL (UNSL-CONICET), Chacabuco y Pedernera, San Luis, C.P. D5700BWQ, Argentina.
Patricia
P
González
Instituto de Química de San Luis, INQUISAL (UNSL-CONICET), Chacabuco y Pedernera, San Luis, C.P. D5700BWQ, Argentina.
Dante
D
Martínez
Instituto de Química de San Luis, INQUISAL (UNSL-CONICET), Chacabuco y Pedernera, San Luis, C.P. D5700BWQ, Argentina.
Raúl
R
Gil
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D015258:Acid Rain; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D001966:Bromine / Q000032:analysis; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D017942:Nitric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D015258:Acid Rain; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014867:Water; D017942:Nitric Acid; D012643:Selenium; D001151:Arsenic; D019342:Acetic Acid; D001966:Bromine
Batch leaching tests; Bromine; Electronic waste; Heavy metals; ICP-MS; Platinum group elements