The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags

The article presents the results of a study on metallurgical sludge reduction using electronic waste such as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). Two aspects were taken into account when selecting such a reducer, namely the environmental aspect and the technological aspect. The research was an attempt to...

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Main Authors: Albert Smalcerz, Tomasz Matula, Michal Slusorz, Julia Wojtasik, Weronika Chaberska, Szymon Kluska, Lukasz Kortyka, Lukasz Mycka, Leszek Blacha, Jerzy Labaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/625
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author Albert Smalcerz
Tomasz Matula
Michal Slusorz
Julia Wojtasik
Weronika Chaberska
Szymon Kluska
Lukasz Kortyka
Lukasz Mycka
Leszek Blacha
Jerzy Labaj
author_facet Albert Smalcerz
Tomasz Matula
Michal Slusorz
Julia Wojtasik
Weronika Chaberska
Szymon Kluska
Lukasz Kortyka
Lukasz Mycka
Leszek Blacha
Jerzy Labaj
author_sort Albert Smalcerz
collection DOAJ
description The article presents the results of a study on metallurgical sludge reduction using electronic waste such as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). Two aspects were taken into account when selecting such a reducer, namely the environmental aspect and the technological aspect. The research was an attempt to use waste metal-bearing material of which the effective management causes many problems from an environmental point of view. In the technological aspect, the specific chemical composition of this waste was taken into account. Its gasification yields significant amounts of hydrocarbons, which are excellent reducing agents in such process. The separation of these compounds may additionally cause the mixing of the molten slag, which should result in faster separation of the formed metal droplets and the molten slag. In the case of the fragmented PCB (Printed Circuit Board) reducer used in this study, a significant degree of copper removal was achieved, as much as 92%. As the reduction-process time increased, the degree of copper removal also increased. For the 1 h process, the average value of copper removal was 60%, and for the 4.5 h process it was over 70%. The case was the same with the addition of reductant: as the amount of reductant added to the process increased, an increase in copper removal was observed. With the addition of 30 g of the reducing agent (per 65 g of slag), the degree of copper removal was over 90%.
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spelling doaj.art-9b82bc6e400c43ce8116f6197fad359e2023-11-30T23:15:54ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-01-0116262510.3390/ma16020625The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper SlagsAlbert Smalcerz0Tomasz Matula1Michal Slusorz2Julia Wojtasik3Weronika Chaberska4Szymon Kluska5Lukasz Kortyka6Lukasz Mycka7Leszek Blacha8Jerzy Labaj9Department of Industrial Informatics, Faculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Metallurgy and Recycling, Faculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Sowińskiego 5, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Sowińskiego 5, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Metallurgy and Recycling, Faculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Metallurgy and Recycling, Faculty of Materials Science, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, PolandThe article presents the results of a study on metallurgical sludge reduction using electronic waste such as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). Two aspects were taken into account when selecting such a reducer, namely the environmental aspect and the technological aspect. The research was an attempt to use waste metal-bearing material of which the effective management causes many problems from an environmental point of view. In the technological aspect, the specific chemical composition of this waste was taken into account. Its gasification yields significant amounts of hydrocarbons, which are excellent reducing agents in such process. The separation of these compounds may additionally cause the mixing of the molten slag, which should result in faster separation of the formed metal droplets and the molten slag. In the case of the fragmented PCB (Printed Circuit Board) reducer used in this study, a significant degree of copper removal was achieved, as much as 92%. As the reduction-process time increased, the degree of copper removal also increased. For the 1 h process, the average value of copper removal was 60%, and for the 4.5 h process it was over 70%. The case was the same with the addition of reductant: as the amount of reductant added to the process increased, an increase in copper removal was observed. With the addition of 30 g of the reducing agent (per 65 g of slag), the degree of copper removal was over 90%.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/625printed circuits boardscrapmetallurgical slagreduction
spellingShingle Albert Smalcerz
Tomasz Matula
Michal Slusorz
Julia Wojtasik
Weronika Chaberska
Szymon Kluska
Lukasz Kortyka
Lukasz Mycka
Leszek Blacha
Jerzy Labaj
The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
Materials
printed circuits board
scrap
metallurgical slag
reduction
title The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
title_full The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
title_fullStr The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
title_full_unstemmed The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
title_short The Use of PCB Scrap in the Reduction in Metallurgical Copper Slags
title_sort use of pcb scrap in the reduction in metallurgical copper slags
topic printed circuits board
scrap
metallurgical slag
reduction
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/625
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