E-Waste Management Ma Supltio tR

Introduction
. The industrial revolution in the field of science and technology has enhanced the quality of
life, but led to manifold problems including the problem of massive amount of hazardous
waste and other wvastes generated from clectric and electronic products.

e-waste or electronic waste are loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or
electronic devices which are at the end of their useful life and need to be disposed or
dismantled to recover some valuable components.

The improper accumulation and recycling can lead to major environmental problems
endangering not only human and animal health but also environment health due to toxic and
other dangerous materials available in them.

E-waste management refers to the processes and systems used to collect, transport, treat, and
dispose of electronic waste (e-waste) in an environmentally responsible and safe manner.

Sources

e- waste are generated from IT & telecommunication equipment and consumer electrical /
electronic products such as refrigerators, washing machines, computer and its accessories,
monitors, printers, keyboards, central processing units, typewriters, mobile phones and
chargers, remotes, compact dises, headphones, batteries, LCDPlasma TVs, i-pods, air
conditioners, dryers, fridge, VCRs, Stereos, Copiers, fax machines, video games, presenters,
music system and other household appliances etc. many of which contain toxic materials.
It also includes lighting equipment like fluorescent lamps, toys, sports equipment automatic
dispensers, electronic or electric teols,ete.,
Composition of e waste
The composition of electronic waste (e-waste) can vary depending on the type of device and
its components. It is characterized by both hazardous and non-hazardous materials. In
general, e-waste isa mixture of materialswhich includes.
1. Metals: E-waste often contains about 65% of iron, steel, valuable metals such as copper,
gold, silver, aluminum and toxic metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium etc.,

2. Plastics: Polymeric non degradable materials which include casings, insulation, and cables.
 3.Glass: they contain glass components, such as screens and lenses.
4. Circuit boards: Circuit boards in electronic devices contain a mixture of metals and other
materials.

5. Batteries: Batteries which are present in electronic devices can contain hazardous materials
such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
6. Other materials: include flame retardants, PCBs, ceramics, plywood. concrete, rubber and
other items. Characteristics of E-waste:

The characteristics of electronic waste

1.The: E-waste is a complex mixture of materials, which is a challenge to recycle and dispose
of properly.

2. The hazardous materials such as heavy metals, flame retardants, and batteries, pose
significant environmental and health risks.

3 E-waste has become a global issue due to manufacture, usage &discard of electronic
devices worldwide.

4. The raw materials used for electronic devices is causing resource depletion. The improper
disposal ofe waste is leading to environmental contamination and waste of valuable
resources which impact on environment and human health.

Need ofE- Waste Management

The necessary of E-waste management helps to address several environmental, health, and
resource-related concerns which are as follows,

" Protecting the environment: and human health from toxic substances, such as
lead, mercury,
and cadmium.

"Conservation of valuable resources, like metals, have to be recovered and reused through
proper recycling.
" Greenhouse gas emissions during the production of new electronic products will impact on
environment. Proper recycling and disposal of e-waste can reduce the environmental impact
of electronic products.
 the release of toxic materials into the
" Landfilling of electronic waste can result in
which has to be reduced.
environment and contribute to soil and water pollution,

Public health is affected due to improper handling and disposal of e-waste by the workers,
"
also hazardous materials may cause serious health problems.
the soil,
E-waste can be toxic, is not biodegradable and accumulates in the environment, in
"
air, water and living things causing pollution.
disposal of
to promote responsible recycling and
. E-waste management programs aim
hazardous materials into the environment.
electronic waste which minimizes the release of
and
conserve resources, and promote public health
This helps to protect the environment,
safety.
and Electrical products.
Toxic materials used in manufacturing Electronic
non-hazardous substances. Hazardous
E-waste can be classified into hazardous and
human health. They include heavy
substances are toxic. They impact on environment and
cyclic aromatic
metals like Pb, Cd,. Cr, Hg, organic compounds like PAHs (poly
hydrocarbons) and other materials like PCB's.
Ga& As in LEDs, BFR in plastics.
1. Pb& Sb in solders. Cd& Be in contacts and Switches,
are used in various electronic
2.Ni and Cd in Ni-Cd batteries, Pb in lead acid batteries
devices.
medical equipment
3.. Hg. is used in thermostats, sensors(electrodes), gas discharge lamps,
(thermometers)and telecom equipment.
monitors,
4. Pb and Sb are used in Cathode ray tubes (CRTS) used in Old TV sets, PC
oscilloscopes.
5. PVC and Teflon polymers along with BFRs are used in wire insulation, plastic housing,
circuit boards etc.

6. PCB capacitors which contain the metals like copper, gold, silver, are used in various
electronic circuits.

7. Freons are present in Refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioners.

8.Beryllium in power supply boxes.
 9.Radioactive Americium in medical equipment, fire detectors.
in CRT screen.
10.Rare earth elements like Yttrium, Europium in Fluorescent screen

Health hazardous due to exposure of e waste:

The e-waste contains a number of toxic components that can cause serious damage to
environment, human and animal health if not properly discarded in a proper manner.
Unscientific dumping of e wastes, accumulation in landfills, use of improper methods for
processing e waste has resulted in contamination of the soil and atmosphere. The entry of
toxic substances into human body by various sources is causing health hazardous.

Effects of some of the chemicals found in e-waste on human health are given below:

1) Brominated flame retardants: Brominated flame retardants (BFRS) are used to reduce fire

related injury and property damage. BFRs are increasing contamination of the environment,
wildlife, and people. These do not decompose easily in the environment, and long-term
exposure can cause impaired memory function and learning.
2) Lead is a naturally-occurring element found in most computer monitors and televisions,
lead exposure leads to intellectual impairment in children and serious damages to human
reproductive systems the nervous system and blood.

3) Cadmium is found in rechargeable batteries for laptop computer and other electronic
devices, cause damage to kidneys and bones.

4) Mercury and its compounds, used in lightening devices in flat screen monitors and
televisions, are toxic to the central and peripheral nervous systems. digestive and immune
systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal.

S) Hexavalent Chromium Compounds Hexavalent chromium compounds are toxic, man

made and widely used in many different industries. It can cause lung cancer, irritation or
damage to the nose, throat, and lung (respiratory tract), irritation or damage to the eyes and
skin etc.

6) Plastic compounds: Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) cabling is used for printed circuit boards,
connectorsS, plastic covers and cables. When burnt or land-filled, these PVCs release dioxins
that have harmful effects on human reproductive and immune systems.
 ) People who live nearby e waste collection. dumping and incineration sites are
attected
with skin problems, headache, vertigo and other health
issues.
8) Arsenic, Beryllium present in dust are carcinogenic, chronic exposure causes lung cancer.
Chronic Beryllium disease called Berylliosis is a disease which primarily affects the lungs.
9)Freons present in refrigerators causes deleterious effect on ozone layer resulting skin
cancers in humans and genetic damage in many organisms.

10) Exposure to high concentrations of Selenium compounds cause selenosis. The symptoms
of selenosis are hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities.

Ewaste recycling and recovery different approaches (recycling, separation and thermal
treatments)

Ewaste recycling: Ewaste recycling is the process which includes developing, assembly
promoting of electronic products that are prepared from waste materials. The benefits are
retrieving of valuable materials and avoids pollution. The recovered materials can be further
used.

The process of e-waste recycling typically involves the following steps:

1.Collection & Storage The first stage in the recycling process for e-waste is the collection of
electronic products through recycling bins, collection locations, households, businesses, and
recycling facilities. It is then transported to a recycling plant for processing.
Safe storage may not appear critical; but it is important for few materials like CRTs
which contain lead coating.

2. Sorting and dismantling: E-waste is sorted into different categories based on the type of
material and the manufacturer. The recyclers then dismantle the devices to separate the
valuable materials from the hazardous components.

3. Shredding: The e-waste is shredded into smaller pieces to make it easier to separate the
different materials. The shredded pieces are then sorted into different categories based on
their composition.
4. Separation: The valuable materials, such as metals, plastics, and glass, are separated from
the other components through a series of physical and chemical processes.
 impurities
& Recovery: The separated materials are processed to remove any
5. Processing
are smelted and
and contaminants, and toprepare them for reuse. For example, metals
appropriate methods, while plastics are melted and molded into new
recovered by using
products.
batteries and
hazardous components of e-waste, such as
6. Disposal of hazardous vaste: The
and health hazards.
LCDs, are properly disposed of to prevent pollution
components of e-waste,
Separation: This method involves physical separation of different
materials, which can be done either
such as metals, plastics, circuit boards and other
nonmetallic components are
manually or through automated processes. The metallic and
separators. Ferrous metals are
separated by passing the shredded waste through electrical
separate the metals like
separated by magnetic separator and gravity separator is used to
disposal. Some of
aluminum. The separated materials are further processed for recycling or
the methods are,

1 Magnetic separation
from shredded solid wastes involves
The most common method of recovering ferrous scrap
usually recovered either after
the use of magnetic recovery systems. Ferrous materials are
shredding or before air classification.
is used to remove the
When wastes are mass-fired in incinerators. the magnetic separator used
the incinerator residue. Magnetic recovery systems have also been
ferrous material from
at landfill disposal sites.
2) Non-ferrous Metal Separation (Eddy Current Separator)

ateral feed
magnet drum

eddy currenl separator

ncnferrous metal
ferrous metat nonnetaic material

materials in an eddy
The image demonstrates a separation of non-ferrous metals fronm inert
induced current
current separator. Eddy current separators, or non-ferrous separators, use the
on a large conductor and separate non-magnetic metals.
 An eddy current is a swirling current set up in a conductor in response to a changing
magnetic field. Eddy current separators handle high capacitics because the conveyor belt
separates and carries away non-ferrous metals continuously and fully automatically.
Thermal treatments: E-waste thermal treatment refers to the use of high temperatures to
recover valuable metals and other materials from electronic waste. Thermal methods for
waste management aim to reduce waste volume, convert waste into harmless materials, and
utilize the energy hidden within waste as heat, steam, electrical power, or combustible
material. The method involves melting down the waste to separate the metal and other
components. This process includes heat treatment mnethods like incineration and other
Pyrometallurgical techniques. From the melt metals are recovered, refined and can be reused.
Also, plastics are remolded for reuse.
Incineration is the process of burning hazardous materials at temperatures high enough to
destroy contaminants. Incineration is conducted in an "incinerator," which is a type of
chamber. Incineration can
furnace designed for burning hazardous materials in a combustion
impact on residential and
also cause water pollution, odour, noise, and vibrations, which
commercial neighbours. In addition, it produces hazardous wastes associated with fly ash and
bottom ash, which require careful handling and disposal.

Recovery different approaches:

metals.
The following are the most widely used techniques for the recovery of
1) Hydrometallurgical process
2) Pyrometallurgical process

Hydrometallurgical process

Hydrometallurgical extraction is a traditional process used to extract valuable metals and

other materials from electronic waste through chemical reactions in aqueous solutions. The
following steps: are involved
electronic
1. Pre-treatment: In the pretreatment step, the fragmentation and size reduction of
waste includes collection, dismantling, separation and shredding, which is carried out by
using different techniques to prepare it for further process like chemical treatment.
 chemical
treatment, in which c-waste is treated with
2. Leaching: Leaching is the chemical
materials, creating a leachate. Some of
reagents in a solution to dissolve the metals and other
the leaching techniques are,
of 3- nitrobenzene
Cyanide leaching: Gold is leachcd by the mixture of sodium salt
sulphonic acid with Potassium cyanide in presence of oxygen.
like citric
Acid and Alkaline leaching: mineral acids like HCLHNO3, organic acids
acid, acetic acid etc., are used. Li is leached by using citric acid.
non-toxic
Thiosulphate leaching: It is the alternative for cyanide leaching. It is safe,
and non-corrosive and metal can be readily recovered.
" Halide leaching: Halide ions can be used for leaching gold e.g., aquaregia.
to separate
3. Separation: The leachate is then subjected to various separation techniques
other materials. Metals are refined through appropriate methods.
Some of the
metals and
methods used are solvent extraction adsorption, ion exchange and electrodeposition.
processed for reuse.
4. Recovery: The recovered metals and other materials are

The advantages of Hydrometallurgical extraction

" is able to process low-grade ores
have a lower environmental impact.

Disadvantages of Hydrometallurgical extraction

potential for contamination.
1. Large amount of water used, so greater

2. Chances of corrosion and erosion in handling equipment.

Pyrometallurgical methods E-waste recycling:

metals and other
Pyrometallurgical method refer for extracting nonferrous and valuable
materials from electronic waste at elevated temperatures.
liquefied in a furnace or in a molten
In the pyrometallurgy process, the crushed scraps are
include a gas treatment facility. Dust
bath to remove plastics. Pyrometallurgical plants must
precipitator. This method includes,
is often removed from gaseous streams by an electrostatic
to reduce its volume and
1). Incineration: Electronic waste is burnt at high temperatures
the waste with suitable emission
recover metals. Incineration is a controlled combustion of
units.
 Mes Buialin
2) Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is a themal decomposition of e waste at higher temperature in an
Oxygen free environment. Pyrolysis vields low molecular weight products which can be used
as fuel and feedstock.

3). Smelting: smelting is the process in whicha metal is obtained either as the element or as a
simple compound, by heating beyond the melting point, in the presence of oxidizing agents,
such as air, or reducing agents, such as coke.The e-waste is melted in a furnace and then
separated into individual metals and other materials.

4). Refining/Recovery: The metals from the smelted e-waste are further processed to remove
impurities and improve their quality by using appropriate methods like electrodeposition, 10n
exchange method etc..

Advantages:
of
Pyrometallurgical methods are effective, economically efficient and sufficient number
precious metals are recovered from e-waste.

Disadvantages:
release
Pyrometallurgical processes are hi.gh investment, high energy demand methods and
of toxic fumes to the environment

Direct recycling of e waste:

from electronic waste
Direct recycling is the process of recovering valuable materials directly
metallurgical steps. This
by avoiding intermediate steps like complicated chemical and
the
method includes the processes such as dismantling and sorting which are used to separate
are
components of e-waste, such as metals, plastics, glass etc., The separated materials
for reuse.
subjected for further process to extract the valuable components and prepare them
materials.
The regenerated materials have performance equivalent to originally manufactured
Since the method helps in the reduction of steps has the following advantages.

Advantages of direct recycling:

includes lower energy inputs

lower environmental impact

the potential for higher quality end products.

By combining with other methods, such as chemical and pyrometallurgical
processing, it is possible to maximize the recovery of valuable materials.
 Extraction of gold from e-waste
GOld is a relatively non-reactive metal. It has good electric conductivity and stability, hence
sed for making integrated circuits of electronic devices. Since e waste acts as vital source of
precious metals like gold, it has to be recovered from complex electronic waste materials
througha series of chemical and physical processes.

Experimental procedure: Hydrometallurgical method

1. Collection and segregation of e-waste: The first step involves collecting and segregating
the e-waste into different categories, such as computer motherboards, cell phones, and other
electronic devices.
2. Physical separation: The e-waste is physically separated into different components, such as
plastics, metals, and glass.

3. Leaching: The metals, including gold, are leached from the e-waste using a suitable
reagent to dissolve the metal. Various chemicals used are cyanide solutions, acids like nitric
acid, aquaregia.
Cyanide leaching is used to extract gold metal. A mixture of sodium salt of 3- nitrobenzene
sulphonic acid with Potassium cyanide in presence of oxygen acts as leaching agent. A water
soluble dicyanoaurate gold complex is obtained.

2Au + 4KCN + O2+2H,0 -’ 2[Au (CN)2]- +4 KOH

4.Recovery: Gold is then recovered by electrodeposition method using pure gold as cathode
and inert anode in leached solution. On passing electricity, gold is deposited on cathode.
Purified gold is recovered for reuse.
Role of stakeholders in the environmental management of e-waste:

The role of stakeholders in management of e-waste can vary depending on the stakeholder
and their level of involvement.

Stakeholders in the environmental management of e waste may include:

"Governments:

" Producers/Manufacturers:

" Consumers:
 " E-waste
recyclers and processors
The important role playcd by
stake holders in the
1. Producers -
management o1 e-Wast
are responsible for designing and
producing clectronic products.
should produce more
eco-friendly products.
If possible, biodegradable materials may be used for
making the cormponents.
involving the collection and recycling of e-waste.
in
Should have proper system for dispose and recycle the
materials.
Ihey must have proper license for recycling and must be renewed periodically.
" Purchasing of recycled material and using of the same during
manufacturing.
2. Consumers - play a crucial role in the responsible disposal of
e-waste.
Should have self-awareness about e waste management.
" Should buy certified products
Involvement in e waste management programs
Returning of e waste to collection units.
Have to support take back schemes in order to protect environment
Responsible for collection, segregation and disposal of e waste
Responsible to hand over broken and old appliances to local recyclers.

3. Recyclers

are responsible for safe management of e-waste

It includes the collection, dismantling, and recycling of electronic waste.
" Providing incentives for the proper collection of e wastes from the collection units.
Since e waste contains hazardous materials, recyclers should educate public by
collecting e waste door to door.
Collection networks have to be established among public to take care of collection
and shipping of e waste.
Public have to be encouraged by giving discounts and exchange offers.
4. Statutory bodies - such as governments,

Are responsible for creating and enforcing regulations and policies to manage e-waste
Promoting public awareness programs about e-waste management
 Green tax has to be collected from consumer through producer to achieve the plan
of
e waste management.

Government should encourage NGO»'s in promoting awareness among people about e

waste management.
Regulations on transboundary movement

Self-learning: Impact of heavy metals on environment and human health.

Heavy metals are toxic, non-biodegradable, and persist in the environment for a long time.
They can cause significant damage to the environment and harm human health.

Environmental impact:
1. Soil contamination: Heavy metals contaminate the soil through industrial
activities,
agriculture, mining operations, etc., leading to a decline in soil fertility which reduces the
quality of crops.
2. Water pollution: Contamination of water bodies occurs due to heavy metals which enter
through industrial discharge, agriculture, and sewage discharge. This can lead to the death of
aquatic life and affect the quality of drinking water.
3. Air pollution: Heavy metals in atmosphere causes respiratory problems and other health
issues for people and wildlife in the area.

4. Food contamination: Heavy metals can enter the food chain through contaminated water
and soil. which leads to the accumulation of heavy metals in the food, posing dangers to
human health.

Health impact:

1.Chronic exposure to heavy metals causes serious health problems, including neurological
disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancers etc.,
2. Children are more susceptible to heavy metal like Pb causing neurological problems.

3. Some of the heavy metals cause respiratory problems, such as bronchitis, asthma, and also
lead to developmental problems in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues.
E.g., 1Cd affects Kidneys and bones.
2 Hg damages digestive and immune system.
3 Be causes lung cancer.

4 Se cause hair loss. nail brittleness.