New Technique for Recycling PCBs

MattSparkes writes "PCBs from discarded computers, cellphones and other devices could be recycled less harmfully using a technique developed by researchers in China. Unlike current methods, it can be used to reclaim metals such as copper without releasing toxic fumes into the air. Only a small numbers of PCBs are currently recycled."

Bulding materials?

[TubeSteak]

They want to compact & use the non-metallic parts as building materials.

This raises the question: Will there still be toxins in these compacted objects? And will they come out when the structure is eventually demolished?

Even concrete has all kinds of nasty that leeches out when you turn it into a pile of rubble.

That's better.

[Fantastic Lad]

I was getting tired of all the fear-mongering with regard to China. It's nice to see the editors pull up something positive about our neighbors to the East.

-FL

Recycling

[wvmarle]

Only a small numbers of PCBs are currently recycled.
Large quantities are being shipped to China for stripping of components and recovery of the copper. Especially now the copper price is so high. So I don't believe just a small number is being recycled - in the USA maybe, but not world wide!

Wouter.

Re:Bulding materials?

[PC-PHIX]

However, if you burn PVC plastic, it gets converted into some particularly nasty dioxins and furans which are dangerously carcinogenic.

Thus, if you happen to be inside one of these buildings when they catch fire, you are really screwed!

Re:Bulding materials?

[dido]

Right, now that I've looked it up, but the issues are still the same it would seem. Burning these types of boards to get at the metal is still something that you really don't want to do. They typically use brominated flame retardants [wikipedia.org] on these boards, which while they are generally inert and non-poisonous in their normal state, when burned they also produce deadly carcinogenic fumes, especially in the presence of copper [haloclean.com]. That makes that ingenious technique described in the article all the more useful: it separates the metallic and non-metallic components without burning.

Re:Bulding materials?

[ajs318]

Well, the whole point is they're designed not to burn! Under fault conditions, electronic apparatus usually overheats; and the last thing you want it bursting into flames. PCB board, when it gets hot, generally just tends to smoulder a bit and cut off its own air supply. Usually, it's the overheating component that fails first; and once it goes open-circuit, the heat source is removed and the unpleasant fumes stop.

Pasta PCB

[iangoldby]

This reminds me of a story I heard about printing circuits on a sheet of pasta.

Pasta PCB [sciencemuseum.org.uk]

Once the protective coating is removed, the board quickly biodegrades, and the ICs and metal coatings can be easily reclaimed.

And here's a Pretty pasta picture [bbc.co.uk]

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