Module-5 E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

E-waste: All items of electrical and electronic equipment and its parts that have been discarded by
the user as waste without the purpose of re-use or re-cycle is called Electronic Waste.
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 of E-Waste:
 Electronic appliances like personal computers, DVD players, laptops, television sets, mobile
phones, mp3 players, etc.
 Office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, and fax machines.
 In educational institute often use electronic equipment such as projectors, computer equipment,
and audio-visual equipment in classrooms and laboratories
 House hold appliances like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, toasters, drying machines,
refrigerators, irons, air conditioners, sensors, medical devices, automobile devices, coffee
machines, wires, bulb, switches and related items.
 Lighting fixtures and appliances such as sodium lamps, fluorescent tubes, sewing machines,
surveillance equipment’s or even electronic toy products also form e-wastes.

Composition of E- waste:
The composition of electronic waste (e-waste) can vary depending on the type of device and its
components. E-waste is composed of both hazardous and non-hazardous materials including:
 Metals: Metals such as copper, gold, silver, iron, steel, aluminium and toxic metals such as lead,
mercury, cadmium and chromium etc..
 Plastics: Many electronic devices contain plastic components, including casings, insulation, and
cables. The polymer such as Polymeric non-biodegradable materials including PVCs,
polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame-retardant plastics
 Glass: Electronic devices often contain glass components, such as screens and lenses.
 Batteries: Some electronic devices contain batteries, which can contain hazardous materials such
as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
 Ceramics and plywood:
 Other hazardous materials: E-waste may also contain other hazardous materials, such as flame
retardants, heavy metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

.Characteristics of e –Waste:-
The characteristics of electronic waste (e-waste) can include:
1. Complexity: E-waste often contains a complex mixture of materials, making it challenging to
recycle and dispose of properly.
2. Hazardousness: E-waste can contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals, flame retardants,
and batteries, which can pose significant environmental and health risks.

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3. Volatility: E-waste is a rapidly growing waste stream due to the increasing use of electronic
devices and the limited lifespan of many electronic products.
4. Global issue: E-waste is a global issue, as electronic devices are manufactured, used, and
discarded worldwide.
5. Resource depletion: The extraction of raw materials for electronic devices contributes to resource
depletion, and the improper disposal of e- waste can lead to environmental contamination and waste
of valuable resources.
6. Environmental and health impacts: Improper disposal of e-waste can lead to significant
environmental and health impacts, including soil and water contamination, air pollution, and harm to
human health.

Need of E- waste management concerning global perspective:-

e-waste management is an important global concern due to address environmental, health, metal
resources and economic concerns and to ensure that electronic waste is disposed of in a responsible
and sustainable manner. Due to these facts, proper efficient e-waste management is required for the
recovery and reuse of components of e-waste.
• Environmental impact: Improper disposal of e-waste can result in release of toxic substances
like lead, mercury, and cadmium into the environment, causing soil, air and water pollution.
• Resource depletion: E-waste contains valuable materials such as gold, silver and copper that can
be recovered and recycled. This can help to conserve natural resources and reduce the need for
new resource extraction.
• Health risks: E-waste can pose health risks to workers involved in the informal recycling sector
and to communities living near e-waste dump sites.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: The production of new electronic products releases
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. Proper recycling and disposal of
e-waste can reduce the environmental impact of electronic products.
• Economic benefits: Proper e-waste management can create job opportunities and generate
revenue from the sale of recovered materials.
• Data security: E-waste can contain sensitive personal information and confidential business data
that could be exploited if not properly managed.
• Rapid growth of electronics industry: Technology dependent world results fastest growing
electronics markets, leading to a growing volume of e-waste.
• Lack of proper disposal infrastructure: In many parts of India, there is a lack of proper
facilities and infrastructure for the disposal and management of e- waste.
• Reducing landfilling: Landfilling of electronic waste can result in the release of toxic materials
into the environment and contribute to soil and water pollution.
• Electronic Recycling Promotes Soil Fertility and Maintain Nutrient: E-waste management
programs aim to promote responsible recycling and disposal of electronic waste and minimize the

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 release of hazardous materials into the environment. This helps to protect the environment,
conserve resources, and promote public health and safety.

Toxic materials used in manufacturing Electronic and Electrical products-

Electronic and electrical products can contain a variety of toxic materials, including:
 Lead: Lead is a toxic heavy metal commonly used in the manufacture of batteries, computer
monitors, cathode ray tubes and other electronic components.
 Mercury: Mercury is used in some fluorescent lights, batteries, Printed circuit board and other
electronic devices.
 Cadmium: Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal used in rechargeable batteries, CRTs, pigments, and
plastic stabilizers.
 Plastics/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC is a common plastic used in electronic cables and other
components. It can release toxic chemicals, such as dioxins, when burned or during disposal.
 Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): BFRs are used in the manufacture of electronic products
to prevent fires. However, they are toxic and can harm the environment and human health.
 Barium: Barium is used in some electronic components, including cathode ray tubes.
 Rechargeable Batteries contains Lithium is used in batteries, but it can be toxic if not handled
properly. Cadmium, Lead, Sodium, Lithium, Nickel etc.,
 Acid: Used to separate the circuit board, used in batteries.
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are toxic chemicals that were widely used as coolants and solvents
in electronic products, such as refrigerators, air conditioners. They cause ozone depletion.

Health hazards due to exposure to E-Waste :

• Respiratory problems: Exposure to dust and fumes generated during the dismantling and
disposal of e-waste can cause respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis.
• Cancer: Exposure to carcinogenic substances, such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), found in e-waste, can increase the risk of cancer. The metals like Lead, Mercury,
Berrylium, Cadmium, Chromium found in electronic equipment’s are carcinogenic in nature
causes cancer.
• Poisoning: Toxic substances, such as Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury, that can cause poisoning if
they enter the body.
• Neurological effects: During breaking and burning of e waste release metal like Lead and
Mercury which can cause neurological effects, including memory loss, tremors, and coordination
problems.
• Reproductive problems: Exposure to toxic substances in e-waste, such as Cadmium, can cause
reproductive problems, including infertility and birth defects.
• Renal and liver problems: E- waste metal like Cadmium and Chromium can causes heath issues
related to kidney and liver.

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• Acids used for separating metals from circuit board can cause eye and skin irritation,
• Open burning of printed circuit boards and electronic cables releases dioxins, persistent organic
pollutants, PAHs, PCBs, Persistent halogenated compounds into the environment. These
contaminants are able to create human gastrointestinal irritation, laxative effects, DNA damage
and adverse birth effects
• Cd metal can damage Kidneys and Pb metal has a direct influence toward central nervous system
as well as deterioration of intelligent quotient in children. Mercury is a potential mutagenic
compound and can greatly affect neurons and immune system.
• People living nearby to E-waste collection, dumping, and incineration sites are direct victims for
the toxic contaminants. There are higher number of incidences with skin damages, headache,
vertigo, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers.

E waste Recycling:-
In e-waste, among various components metals contribute to the significant economic value and
efforts are focused on extracting the metals during recycling operation.
The following steps involved in recycling process:
1. Collection and transportation: E-waste is collected from various sources such as households,
businesses, and recycling facilities. It is then transported to a recycling plant for processing.
2. Sorting and dismantling: E-waste is sorted into different categories based on the type of material
and the manufacturer. Manual dismantling and separation of valuable materials from the
hazardous components.
3. Shredding: Shredding of materials mechanically through crushers or grinders to collect fragments
of metal bearing components. The shredded pieces are then sorted into different categories based
on their composition. Metals such as aluminium and copper can be separated from non-metallic
components from eddy current method.
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. In this step waste is passed
through electrical separators to separate metallic and non-metallic components. Magnetic
separator is used to collect ferrous metals and Gravity separation is used to separate Al metal.
Finally, after physical separation, various chemical treatment is employed to recover metals.
5. Processing: The separated materials are processed to remove any impurities and contaminants,
and to prepare them for reuse. Metals are recovered by Pyrometallurgical of Hydrometallurgical
process.
6. Disposal of hazardous waste: The hazardous components of e-waste, such as batteries and
LCDs, are properly disposed of to prevent pollution and health hazards.
E- Waste recycling and recovery different approaches (recycling, separation and thermal
treatment)
E-Waste recycling and recovery can be achieved through different approaches, including separation
and thermal treatments.
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Separation: This involves physically separating different components of e-waste, such as metals,
plastics, and circuit boards. This can be done manually or through automated processes, and the
separated materials can then be processed further for recycling or disposal. Such as using specialized
equipment to sort materials by density, size, or magnetic properties. Some common examples of e-
waste components that are separated during the recycling
process include:
Thermal treatments: E-waste thermal treatment refers to the use of high temperatures to recover
valuable metals and other materials from electronic waste. This process can include incineration or
other pyrometallurgical techniques, and typically involves melting down the waste to separate the
metal components. The separated metals can then be recovered and reused. Thermal treatment can be
an effective method for e-waste recycling.

Pyrometallurgy process:-
Pyrometallurgy process is used to extract pure nonferrous and precious metals from e-waste. The
methods require high temperature to reduce /extract metals. Pyrometallurgical treatment of e-waste
commonly involves smelting in furnaces at high temperatures, incineration, combustion, and
pyrolysis, and in these unit processes the metals are separated based on their chemical and
metallurgical properties.
1. Smelting:- Copper smelting is commonly used for recovery of nonferrous metal fractions from e-
waste. The processed scrap after preliminary stage contains mainly Iron, Aluminium, Copper, Lead,
Tin, antimony, Zinc and precious metals as metallic Constituents. The mixture is fed to high
temperature furnace of copper smelters. The copper metal is converted to liquid copper. The impure
copper undergoes electrorefining process to get pure copper (99.99 %). The precious and valuable
metals like Au, Pt, Lead, Tin and antimony are recovered from sludge with high recovery rates of
90% using hydrometallurgical process. Here iron, silicon and aluminium are not recovered but are
collected as slag.
2. Combustion:- It is a low technology, low-cost method which focuses on recovery of precious
metals. The e-waste is subjected to open burning in uncontrolled manner which releases all sorts of
pollutants into atmosphere. The method is highly dangerous for the environment and also increases
the health risk of all the workers involved in it.
3. Incineration:- It is a controlled combustion of waste with suitable emission units. The incinerator
has two connected furnaces. In first furnace e-waste is burnt at temperature 800oC and in second
furnace for gaseous products of the first incinerator are further oxidised at 1110oC.Heavy metals and
fly ash are collected at the bottom. Hydrometallurgical process is used for further recovery of metals.
Considering the generation of pollutant gas emission and low metal recycling performance,
incineration is not a wise choice as a solution to recycle the metals.
4. Pyrolysis:- In this process the thermal decomposition of e-waste at higher temperature in an
oxygen free environment takes place. During pyrolysis irreversible thermal decomposition reactions
takes place leading to the formation of low molecular weight products (gases and Liquids) at

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temperature between 450oC and 1100oC.The gases, chars and oils produced have an economic value
and can be used as fuel. The metallic components can be separated by separation. The process also
involves release of toxic halogens along with flue gases into atmosphere.
5. Molten salt Process:- In this method inorganic salts such as potassium hydroxide (KOH)-sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH) are used at different temperature between 300 oC and 1100 oC in a furnace
depending upon the requirement. E-waste is fed with the salt and salt is melted at desired temperature
in an inert atmosphere. The organic part decomposes in salt forming carbonate and silicates and get
trapped in salt. Halogens are converted to alkali metal halides which remain in molten salt. Molten
salts dissolve glasses, oxides and to destruct plastics present in wastes without oxidizing the most
valuable metals. This method is efficient for recovering a copper-rich metallic fraction. A large
quantity of hydrogen is produced and might be used as fuel gas. The metallic component is collected
at the bottom of the furnace after removing the molten salt by washing with hot water. The metal is
further processed to get pure metal.

Hydrometallurgical extraction:-
Hydrometallurgical processing mainly involves the use of a series of acids or caustic leaches to leach
out the metals from E-waste and further separation and purification using extraction, adsorption, and
ion exchange to concentrate the precious metal. There are three main stages in metal recovery by
hydrometallurgical process.
Pre-treatment stage: It involves physical separation of metal components from e-waste which
involves dismantling with separation of hazardous and valuable components. Next shredding of the
materials mechanically through crushers and grinders. Electrical and magnetic separators are also
used in separation.
Chemical Treatment stage:
1. Cyanide leaching: Leaching gold with a cyanide solution remains the most widely used
hydrometallurgical process for the extraction of gold from ores and concentrates. The gold is leached
from their native ores by dilute solution of potassium cyanide (or) sodium cyanide in the presence of
air (oxygen) and complex of cyanides that are water soluble are obtained. Next the gold can be
removed through adsorption onto activated carbon.
2. Acid Leaching: Nitric acid, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid are used to leach the target
metals. Ascorbic acids, citric acids and acetic acids are used to leach light metals from spent batteries
and mobile devices.
3. Thiourea leaching: Thiourea is used as a complexing agent that forms cationic soluble complex
with target metal. Thiourea is not stable and decomposes easily in alkaline solutions and hence the
reaction is carried in acidic conditions. The agent was applied to leach gold and silver from PCBs
of waste mobile phones.
4. Thiosulphate leaching: Thiosulfate leaching can be considered a non-toxic process, the gold
dissolution rates can be faster than conventional cyanidation and, due to the decreased interference of
foreign cations, high gold recoveries can be obtained from the thiosulfate leaching of complex.

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Ammonium thiosulphate solution is used to solubilize gold, silver and platinum and other precious
metals in form of anionic stable complex. The metals can be recovered from complex.
5. Halide leaching: Chloride, iodide and bromide are used to leach gold from PCB waste. These are
high rate of leaching, cheaper and selective method.

Metal Recovery stage: In this process metal, is recovered from leached metal solution. A variety of
methods such as solvent extraction, ion exchange, adsorption, precipitation and cementation are
followed.
1. Solvent extraction: In this process leaching solution is treated with organic solvent in separating
funnel. It results in two phase system. Metal is extracted from leached solution phase to organic
phase system. Different extractants such as amides or amines are used for extraction of gold,
vanadium, iridium, rhodium and tungsten. Methyisobutylketone is also used as extractants for
gold.
2. Electrodeposition: In this method pure gold is obtained from leached solution by
electrodeposition. Pure metal same as metal to be extracted is taken as cathode and inert metal as
anode. They are dipped in leaching solution. When current is applied pure metal gets
electrodeposited at cathode. Even metals such as lead, tin, copper from PCBs can be recovered
from leaching solution. The method is highly efficient, low environment impact and cost
effective.
3. Ion exchange: It is an improved version of solvent extraction method. In this method solvent
extracting reagents are impregnated on polymer beads. The functional group of reagents act as a
chelating group and selectively bind metal ions. The method is selective to recover selective
metal ion. The method is effective to recover gold from cyanide and thiosulphate leached
solutions. It is a low cost, no loss of reagent and environmental safety method.
4. Adsorption: The metals can be recovered from leached solutions by adsorption on appropriate
adsorbents. Activated charcoal is one of the effective adsorbents. The adsorption of gold on
activated carbon from cyanide solutions is an efficient, low-cost process. Pt, Au, Ag, Cu metals
can be removed from cyanide solution with 95-100 % efficiency.

Extraction of gold from E-waste by Hydrometallurgical method:-

Principle: The principle behind the extraction of gold from e-waste is based on the fact that gold is a
relatively non-reactive metal, which allows it to be recovered from complex electronic waste
matrices through a series of chemical and physical processes.
Experimental procedure:
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.

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3. Techniques such as gravity separation electrostatic separation, magnetic separation and eddy
current separation are used to separate metals from fractions.
4. Leaching: The metals, including gold, are leached from the e-waste using a suitable reagent, such
as aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid), to dissolve the gold.
Au + HNO3 + 4HCl → HAuCl4 + NO + 2H2O
5. Precipitation: The dissolved gold is then precipitated out of the solution through the addition of a
suitable reducing agent, such as sodium metabisulfite.
2H[AuCl4] + 3Na2S2O5 + 3H2O → 2Au + 3SO2 + 3Na2SO4 + 8HCl
6. Purification: The precipitated gold is then purified through processes such as ion exchange,
electro-winning, or distillation, to remove impurities and improve its quality.
7. Recovery: The purified gold is then recovered for reuse.
Direct recycling of E - waste:-
Direct recycling of e-waste refers to the process of recovering valuable materials from electronic
waste without the need for intermediate processing steps. This can include processes such as
shredding, granulating, and sorting, which are used to separate the different components of e-waste,
such as metals, plastics, and glass. The separated materials are then processed to extract the valuable
components and prepare them for reuse.
Advantages of direct recycling: Several advantages over other methods of e-waste recycling,
including lower energy inputs, lower environmental impact, and the potential for higher quality end
products. By combining direct recycling with other methods, such as chemical and pyrometallurgical
processing, it is possible to maximize the recovery of valuable materials from electronic waste and
minimize the environmental impact of e-waste management.

Role of Stake Holders in Environment Management of e-Waste (Producers, Consumers,

Recyclers and Statutory bodies:-
1. Statutory government Regulatory bodies
The statutory bodies play a Vitol role in management of e-waste. Main roles are:
a) To collect the green tax from consumer through producer.
b) Apply extra charges on producers (manufacturing units) in form of penalty when no proper
recycling is assured from manufacturing units.
c) Provide incentives in form of subsidy to recyclers and collectors when recycling of e-waste is
done properly.
d) To conduct programs of awareness in the society about importance of e-waste recycling in
reduction of hazardous substances.
2. Producers (Manufacturing units)
a) The accountability to collect green tax.
b) Charging an additional amount on consumer during sell of e-products and returning it with
interest at the time of exchange of e-product.
c) Forming the group of manufactures who monitor and encourage the recycling of e-waste.
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d) Bearing the transportation cost and collection fees to ease collection process.
e) Purchase the recycling material at fixed value and using of recycled e-waste during
manufacturing.
f) Giving discount to consumer on the basis of e-waste generated from gadget.
3. Recyclers (Recycling units & Collection Units)
a) The accountability of recycling units is dismantling, recycling processing of e-waste materials,
management of scarp materials and reselling of recycling materials
b) Establish collection units and group of people who can ensure return back of e-products by
consumer in exchange offer or directly approach consumer for door-to-door collection.
c) Collect the e-waste from the collection units, dealer or retailer.
d) Providing incentives when proper collection of e-waste assured by collection units.
4. Consumer
a) The accountability to pay green taxes.
b) Develop self-awareness on e-waste management and involve in awareness programs.
c) Returning back of e-waste to collection units.

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