Eco-Efficient Recycling of Printed Circuit Boards

The article presents a technology for the physical recycling of printed circuit boards (PCBs) that is consistent with the principles of circular economy and sustainable production. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for PCB recycling using shredding, grinding and physical and physicochemical processes such as electrostatic separation, gravity separation and flotation for the separation of metals and plastics. On the basis of this assessment and the selectivity criterion, electrostatic separation was found to be the best separation method used after shredding and cryogenic grinding. Furthermore, the financial potential of recycling and other benefits that recycling can bring to the economics of the business and to the protection of the environment were presented. The possibility of using non-metallic fraction (plastic) generated during the recycling as an additive in the production of composite materials was assessed. The functional properties of the composite were assessed (static tensile, hardness, pin-on-disc, and Schopper-Schlobach abrasion tests), as well as the ecotoxicity of the powder added to polymeric materials such as polyester and epoxy resins, and silicone, used in the production of consumer goods.