title: Waste Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Recycling Techniques.
abstract: With the development of technologies and the change of consumer attitudes, the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is increasing annually. As the core part of WEEE, the waste printed circuit board (WPCB) is a dangerous waste but at the same time a rich resource for various kinds of materials. In this work, various WPCB treatment methods as well as WPCB recycling techniques divided into direct treatment (landfill and incineration), primitive recycling technology (pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, biometallurgy and primitive full recovery of NMF-non metallic fraction), and advanced recycling technology (mechanical separation, direct use and modification of NMF) are reviewed and analyzed based on their advantages and disadvantages. Also, the evaluation criteria are discussed including economic, environmental, and gate-to-market ability. This review indicates the future research direction of WPCB recycling should focus on a combination of several techniques or in series recycling to maximize the benefits of process.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: School of Energy and Environment, The City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Carol Sze Ki
authors.initials: CSK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: David Chi Wai
authors.initials: DCW
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong. gmckay@qf.org.qa.|College of Science and Engineering, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar. gmckay@qf.org.qa.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D059029:Electronic Waste; D059027:Recycling
keywords: Hydrometallurgy; Mechanic separation; Performance evaluation; Pyrometallurgy; Recycling techniques; Waste printed circuit board