VOCs elimination and health risk reduction in e-waste dismantling workshop using integrated techniques of electrostatic precipitation with advanced oxidation technologies.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during the electronic waste dismantling process (EWDP) were treated at a pilot scale, using integrated electrostatic precipitation (EP)-advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs, subsequent photocatalysis (PC) and ozonation). Although no obvious alteration was seen in VOC concentration and composition, EP technology removed 47.2% of total suspended particles, greatly reducing the negative effect of particles on subsequent AOTs. After the AOT treatment, average removal efficiencies of 95.7%, 95.4%, 87.4%, and 97.5% were achieved for aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, as well as nitrogen- and oxygen-containing compounds, respectively, over 60-day treatment period. Furthermore, high elimination capacities were also seen using hybrid technique of PC with ozonation; this was due to the PC unit's high loading rates and excellent pre-treatment abilities, and the ozonation unit's high elimination capacity. In addition, the non-cancer and cancer risks, as well as the occupational exposure cancer risk, for workers exposed to emitted VOCs in workshop were reduced dramatically after the integrated technique treatment. Results demonstrated that the integrated technique led to highly efficient and stable VOC removal from EWDP emissions at a pilot scale. This study points to an efficient approach for atmospheric purification and improving human health in e-waste recycling regions.
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Jiangyao
J
Chen
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Yong
Y
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Guiying
G
Li
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: antc99@gig.ac.cn.
Taicheng
T
An
Guangzhou Longest Environmental Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510660, China.
Yunkun
Y
Hu
Guangzhou Longest Environmental Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510660, China.
Yunlu
Y
Li
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D059029:Electronic Waste; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone; D010865:Pilot Projects; D059027:Recycling; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055672:Static Electricity; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D010126:Ozone
Advanced oxidation technologies; E-waste dismantling; Integrated EP-PC-ozonation technique; Risk assessment; VOCs