New Technique for Recycling PCBs

MattSparkes writes "PCBs from discarded computers, cellphones and other devices could be recycled less harmfully using a technique developed by researchers in China. Unlike current methods, it can be used to reclaim metals such as copper without releasing toxic fumes into the air. Only a small numbers of PCBs are currently recycled."

Comments

Bulding materials?

[TubeSteak]

They want to compact & use the non-metallic parts as building materials.

This raises the question: Will there still be toxins in these compacted objects? And will they come out when the structure is eventually demolished?

Even concrete has all kinds of nasty that leeches out when you turn it into a pile of rubble.

Re:Bulding materials?

[dido]

Right, now that I've looked it up, but the issues are still the same it would seem. Burning these types of boards to get at the metal is still something that you really don't want to do. They typically use brominated flame retardants on these boards, which while they are generally inert and non-poisonous in their normal state, when burned they also produce deadly carcinogenic fumes, especially in the presence of copper. That makes that ingenious technique described in the article all the more useful: it separates the metallic and non-metallic components without burning.

That's better.

[Fantastic Lad]

I was getting tired of all the fear-mongering with regard to China. It's nice to see the editors pull up something positive about our neighbors to the East.

-FL