Metal Recovery from Electronic Waste Generated in Bangladesh

This generation can’t be imagined without copper, the most used metal element in electrical and electronic appliances due to its efficient electric conductivity. That causes as the usual high yield of copper in the waste stream too. As energy resources are limited, alternative methods should be developed to recover those energy resources for keeping the ecosystems balanced. The printed circuit board is the main source of value metals like gold, silver, copper etc. To recover value metals, hydrometallurgical methods are mostly used due to their low emissions and high efficiencies. Dissolving printed circuit boards in strong acid media with oxidant and then depositing copper by electrolysis may yield 99% in the pure form. On the other hand, this era of electronics is creating an ambivalent situation for human civilizations. The waste stream coming through this pipeline causes hazardous environment and performing the role of secondary resources of value metals. The printed circuit board is the point of attraction as it acts as the brain of the whole system. Thus, it has to carry the elements that have good electrical and mechanical properties. However, to satisfy the requirement, the value and hazardous elements are used there at the same time. When Gold, Silver, Copper etc. are used mostly for their conductivity, Tin is mostly used as a soldering material. As energy sources are fixed for planet earth, resources should be taken care of. Recycling used appliances is a great option where value metal like Tin can be extracted and reused. Hydrometallurgical routes are found to be the most efficient to recover value metals.