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Scientific Article details

Title Precious and critical metals from wasted LED lamps: characterization and evaluation
ID_Doc 10588
Authors Cenci, MP; Dal Berto, FC; Castillo, BW; Veit, HM
Title Precious and critical metals from wasted LED lamps: characterization and evaluation
Year 2022
Published Environmental Technology, 43, 12
DOI 10.1080/09593330.2020.1856939
Abstract LED lamps already conquered the market of general lighting and are expected to generate a substantial stream of e-waste in the coming years. The challenge of recycling LED lamps have emerged, and it is essential to address both environmental and economic aspects to achieve a circular economy. LED lamps contain precious and critical metals, which can be found in electrical components and in the LED itself, making them a prospective waste for recycling initiatives. However, data about the concentration and distribution of these metals in the LED lamp's components are still scarce and uncertain. This work aims to characterise the various components of different brands of LED lamps to provide novel data on the precious and critical metals' amounts. Gold and silver were found in all brands of lamp, and we highlight the occurrence of gold in all analysed components, in concentrations between 0.01% and 0.07%, which is relevant to the economic viability of future recycling routes (gold and silver can contribute with USD 4340.00 per ton of LED lamps). The critical metals gallium, yttrium, and cerium were found in LEDs, while cobalt, barium, gallium, antimony, and manganese were found in printed circuit boards (PCBs). Additionally, the elements lead, cadmium, and arsenic were characterised due to their association with environmental and human toxicity.
Author Keywords Wasted Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE); recycling; material recovery; gold; gallium
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000597869500001
WoS Category Environmental Sciences
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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