A review on existing pre-treatment techniques of waste printed circuit boards

Abstract

This review emphasises the pre-treatment of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). Different types of pre-treatment, like physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal processes have been discussed for analysing the extent of metal recovery from WPCBs. While most of the downstream recycling routes aim at metal recovery using specific unit processes, pre-treatment lays the foundation for enhanced material recovery. A closer and more critical examination of technological advances in the pre-treatment techniques presented in this review will strengthen the understanding of the future scope of WPCBs recycling. The study also offers insight into the material constitution of WPCBs. The advantages and disadvantages of each pre-treatment route have also been discussed. Modern recycling industries aim to combine an excellent pre-treatment process with a highly efficient material recovery process. A higher overall efficiency can be achieved with greater insight into the pre-treatment strategies. © 2024 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.