Grantee Research Project Results
Identification and Sorting of Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs) Within an E-Waste Recycling Stream
EPA Contract Number: EPD06081Title: Identification and Sorting of Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs) Within an E-Waste Recycling Stream
Investigators: Sommer, Edward J.
Small Business: National Recovery Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007
Project Amount: $224,995
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2006) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the most rapidly growing waste problems worldwide. Improper handling of e-waste results in vast amounts of toxic waste being sent to landfills, consequently leaching into the water supply. Due to these concerns, e-waste recycling is a rapidly growing industry. Unfortunately, most current e-waste recycling processes rely on either manual hand sorting or automated equipment used to recover significant portions of valuable metals. The automated method is expensive in the United States and associated with major environmental damage overseas.
When properly sorted, there is a significant amount of valuable recyclable materials in e-waste. Recycling rates for e-waste currently are low, in part because e-waste recyclers charge a fee for recycling to make a profit. Legislative action in many states may increase this rate, but the long-term viability of e-waste recycling depends on economical approaches to recovering these valuable materials.
In Phase I of this research project, National Recovery Technologies, Inc., demonstrated the technical feasibility for developing a high-speed automated sorting system for sorting printed wiring boards (PWBs) from e-waste plastics. This automated sorting system allows recyclers of e-wastes to process PWBs more efficiently to obtain a pure plastics stream. The stream then can be sorted into pure polymer streams for sale to plastics manufacturers at a premium price.
The objective of this Phase II research project is to complete the development
of this technology. A significant increase in the anticipated amount
of e-waste has been observed over the last few years. This is expected
to continue as the time between introduction and obsolescence becomes continually
smaller. Because most electronic devices contain a significant number
of plastic parts, PWB separation and recovery of these materials is crucial
for the long-term viability of environmentally friendly recycling of e-wastes. It
is anticipated that upon successful completion of Phase I and Phase II that
the application of the technology will decrease the cost of recycling e-wastes,
improving the rate at which e-wastes are recycled.
National Recovery Technologies is a major manufacturer of recycling equipment
for post-consumer plastics recycling. The company has received considerable
interest in the development of a system for sorting PWB materials from e-waste
plastics. Due to this interest, the proposed technology is expected to
have a strong market in the e-waste recycling industry.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, electronic waste, e-waste, recycling, plastics recycling, post-consumer plastics, printed wiring boards, PWBs, toxic waste, landfills, environmental protection, e-waste plastics, polymer, differential density sorting, recyclable materials, sorting system,, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, POLLUTION PREVENTION, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Hazardous, Technology for Sustainable Environment, recycling, Sustainable Environment, Municipal, Hazardous Waste, waste reduction, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Chemicals, Environmental Engineering, municipal waste plastics, waste minimization, municipal solid waste, municipal waste, material recovery facility, plastics, printed wiring boards, automated waste recycling, computer scrap, polymers, recovery, e-waste, waste recycling, materials recovery facility, high speed automated sorting, electronic waste recycling, electronics industry, plastics sorting, electronic waste, hazardous waste recyclingProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Identification and Sorting of Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs) Within an E-Waste Recycling StreamThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.