RECOVERY OF METALS FROM WASTE OF PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS (WPCB) USING
ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION
* E. Y. Yazici (Corresponding author)
Hydromet B&PM Research Group, Dept. of Mining Eng., Karadeniz Technical University
Trabzon, Turkey (eyazici@ktu.edu.tr, +90462 377 3683)
H. Deveci
Hydromet B&PM Research Group, Dept. of Mining Eng., Karadeniz Technical University
Trabzon, Turkey (hdeveci@ktu.edu.tr, +90462 377 3681)
ABSTRACT
The recovery of base and precious metals from waste of printed circuit boards (WPCB) is of economic and
environmental interest. Physical methods can be used as simple and eco-friendly methods to produce a
metal-rich concentrate prior to extractive metallurgical processes. In this study, electrostatic separation was
comprehensively studied to separate metals from non-metal fraction of WPCB using an electrostatic
separator operating with a corona electrode. An amount of ≈200 kg WPCB (without board components)
was size reduced in two-stage crushing using a rotary cutting shredder to obtain a particle size of below
3.35 mm. The effects of applied voltage (20-30 kV), drum speed (120-320 rpm) and splitter angle (60-70°)
on the separation of metallic fraction from WPCB were investigated through response surface
methodology (i.e. central composite design, CCD) to assess the influence of the parameters on separation
efficiency of metals in five levels. A data analysis software (Design-Expert v.8) was used to evaluate the
experimental data. The effects of parameters on metal recovery were demonstrated. Metal losses were
found to occur, which can be attributed to the heterogeneous character of WPCB in that metals are
associated with non-metallic materials in various forms. It can be concluded from these findings that under
the conditions tested a metal-rich concentrate can be produced at the expense of metal losses.
KEYWORDS
Waste of printed circuit boards (WPCB), Metals, Electrostatic separation, Experimental design