RECYCLING OF GOLD AND COPPER FROM WASTE PRINTED COMPUTER

CIRCUIT BOARDS (WPCBs) P-4 TYPE THROUGH LEACHING USING DEEP

EUTECTIC SOLVENTS (DESs)
Group Members: Muhammad Zaib Khan(2019-MIN-05) Shahroze Ali(2019-MIN-12) Fareed Ahmed(2019-MIN-18)
Mining Engineering Department, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore.

ABSTRACT SCOPE LEACHING

Hydrometallurgical recycling of Waste Printed
Circuit Boards (WPCBs) involve mineral acids
and organic acids, which are expensive, toxic
and slow. In this study, a green route for the ex-
traction of Gold and Copper from WPCBs was
investigated. WPCBs were crushed to -1 milli-
meter and were passed through Magnetic and
Electrostatic Separators. The concentrate was
leached with DESs at temperature 60-90 Cen-
tigrade (0C) for 2 hours. The Deep Eutectic Sol-
vent (DESs) were synthesized by combining
Tetra-n-Butyl Ammonium Chloride salt with
Humic Acid in 1:1 at 90 0C. It is expected that
this study will contribute towards green recy-
cling of WPCBs.
This study will provide circular economic and
enviroment benefits both at national and as 5 gram DES Hot Plate
well as at global level. This proposed technolo-
gy can be used to meet the demand of pre-
cious metallic minerals and will cut the expan-
sive import of metals for recycling industries in
pakistan.
1 gram
WPCBS Powder
MATERIALS
WPCBs of P4 type used in this research.
WPCBs made of different metals and
non-metals. The WPCBs were dismantled and
separated all un-wanted pieces.

INTRODUCTION
WPCBs have become one of the fastest grow-
ing waste around the world. WPCBs are made Centrifugation
up of 4-7% of the total mass of WPCBs and
contains both toxic and valuable metals in spe-
Leachate
cific percentages. Pyro-metallurgical, Bio-hy-
drometallurgical and Hydrometallurgical pro-
cesses are most important of those which have
been widely used in the recycling of WPCBs.
Currently, new technology known as DESs
have been established to be used in hydromet- METHODOLOGY
allurgical routes and in many other fields.
IMPACT SEIVING THRU
SEIVE SHAKER CENTRIFUGATION
CRUSHER FILTRATION
KNIFE LEACHING
FILTERED
MILL
SOLUTION

+1 mm -1 mm
LEACHATE CENTRIFUGED
SOLUTION SOLUTION
Dismantaling
WPCBs

TEMP 70°C, TIME 1 hr

Stirring Speed 175 RPM

1g of HUMIC ACID ATOMIC

1g of TETRA-N-BUTYL ABSORPTION
DISCARD
AMMONIUM CHLOIRIDE
SPECTROSCOPY
DES Preparation

DES PREPARATION RESULTS

DESs were prepared by combining humic acid
with tetra-n-butyl ammonium chloride that
have low cost and less toxicity. Humic acid is
hydrogen bond donor and tetra-n-butyl Am-
monium Chloride is hydrogen bond acceptor.
They reacted with each other on hot plate and
formed the deep eutectic solvent.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
HOT PLATE
The recycling of Waste Printed Circuit Boards (MAGNETIC SIRRER)
(WPCBs) has been very problematic since it in-
volves the use of mineral acids which are very
Acid 1g
toxic, harmful and have adverse effects on the
environment. Similarly, there is use of organic
acids for this purpose which are very expensive
Salt 1g
because of the addition of reducing agents.
DISCUSSION
Temperature 70°C The Maximum recovery of gold and copper
(70%) was observed at 3hr, 90°C using this
OBJECTIVE Novel combination, whereas the minimum
Stirring Speed 175 RPM leaching efficiency (9%) was recorded at 1hr,
To find the reagents that are non-toxic, eco- 60°C. It was also found that the leaching
nomical and can replace expensive organic efficiency increased linearly with increasing
acids that can be used for the extraction of Time 1 hour temperature and time for this combination.
gold and copper from WPCBs.