Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches
The rapid development of light-emitting-diode (LED) technology is attributed to its superiority over light sources of earlier generations. Although LED lamps, compared to compact fluorescent lamps, are considered less harmful to the environment, there is still no efficient solution to deal with them...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/7/3/26 |
| _version_ | 1797482854709460992 |
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| author | Adam Balinski Volker Recksiek Michael Stoll Christian Christesen Michael Stelter |
| author_facet | Adam Balinski Volker Recksiek Michael Stoll Christian Christesen Michael Stelter |
| author_sort | Adam Balinski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid development of light-emitting-diode (LED) technology is attributed to its superiority over light sources of earlier generations. Although LED lamps, compared to compact fluorescent lamps, are considered less harmful to the environment, there is still no efficient solution to deal with them at the end of their lifecycle. The first part of the study provides a detailed characterisation of LED lamps, focusing on their most interesting component: the LED module. LED packages attached to the module are highly enriched with Ga, In, Pd, Ag, Au, Sr, Y, Ce, Eu, Gd, and Lu, with the content of each element varying greatly depending on the LED technology. In the second part of this research, two new approaches for liberation and concentration of valuable components from LED modules are presented and compared: a chemical route and a thermal route. The chemical treatment leads to a highly selective separation of LED chips and encapsulation. Enrichment factors up to about 125 are achieved, and a concentrate is obtained containing approximately 14 wt% of the aforementioned valuable components. However, the process requires aromatic solvents, which are viewed as toxic. The thermal treatment results in separation of the aluminium heat sink from all other components of the LED module. Enrichment is approximately ten times lower, but the approach is technically feasible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:38:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-355d409ac3ef40faa6c2bb7353332af3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:38:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj.art-355d409ac3ef40faa6c2bb7353332af32023-11-23T18:43:56ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212022-04-01732610.3390/recycling7030026Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative ApproachesAdam Balinski0Volker Recksiek1Michael Stoll2Christian Christesen3Michael Stelter4Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyThe rapid development of light-emitting-diode (LED) technology is attributed to its superiority over light sources of earlier generations. Although LED lamps, compared to compact fluorescent lamps, are considered less harmful to the environment, there is still no efficient solution to deal with them at the end of their lifecycle. The first part of the study provides a detailed characterisation of LED lamps, focusing on their most interesting component: the LED module. LED packages attached to the module are highly enriched with Ga, In, Pd, Ag, Au, Sr, Y, Ce, Eu, Gd, and Lu, with the content of each element varying greatly depending on the LED technology. In the second part of this research, two new approaches for liberation and concentration of valuable components from LED modules are presented and compared: a chemical route and a thermal route. The chemical treatment leads to a highly selective separation of LED chips and encapsulation. Enrichment factors up to about 125 are achieved, and a concentrate is obtained containing approximately 14 wt% of the aforementioned valuable components. However, the process requires aromatic solvents, which are viewed as toxic. The thermal treatment results in separation of the aluminium heat sink from all other components of the LED module. Enrichment is approximately ten times lower, but the approach is technically feasible.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/7/3/26LED lampsrecyclingwaste electrical and electronic equipmentgalliumprecious metalsrare earth elements |
| spellingShingle | Adam Balinski Volker Recksiek Michael Stoll Christian Christesen Michael Stelter Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches Recycling LED lamps recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment gallium precious metals rare earth elements |
| title | Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches |
| title_full | Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches |
| title_fullStr | Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches |
| title_short | Liberation and Separation of Valuable Components from LED Modules: Presentation of Two Innovative Approaches |
| title_sort | liberation and separation of valuable components from led modules presentation of two innovative approaches |
| topic | LED lamps recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment gallium precious metals rare earth elements |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/7/3/26 |
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