Thermochemical conversion of waste printed circuit boards: Thermal behavior, reaction kinetics, pollutant evolution and corresponding controlling strategies

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pecs.2023.101086
• Publication Date: 2023-04-20T08:25:50Z
• Authors: Zhitong Yao; Markus Reinmöller; Nuria Ortuño; Hongxu Zhou; Meiqing Jin; Jie Liu; Rafael Luque
• Keywords: Electronic waste

With the rapid development of the global electronics industry, waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) has become one of the world's fastest growing waste streams. Exploring an environmentally sound treatment for this abundant and multi-component waste is critical to its sustainable development. This study has been aimed to cover thermochemical conversion of WPCBs (combustion, pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal process), focusing on thermal behavior, reaction kinetics, pollutant evolution and corresponding controlling strategies, with the aim of promoting circular economic development and building a sustainable future for the electronics industry. This work was financially supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. LTY21B070002). R. Luque gratefully acknowledges Universitá degli studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria (DICEAM) for his current Rosario Pietropaolo Honorary Chair.