Management of Electronic Waste by Employing Combined Technological Strategies
Global Journal of Finance and Management 6(6): 545-550, 2014
6 Pages Posted: 9 Nov 2014
Date Written: November 7, 2014
Abstract
E-waste is a generic term encompassing various forms of waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE) that are old, end-of-life electronic appliances and have ceased to be of any value to their owners. Among the various categories, e-waste is considered to be most advanced and fastest growing type of solid waste streams in the urban environment worldwide. In general, e-waste comprises of all old, end-of-life appliances like computers, laptops, audio and video products, refrigerators, freezers, mobiles phones, etc. along with their peripherals. The sources of e-waste are relatively expensive and essentially durable products used for data processing, telecommunications, or entertainment in private households and businesses. It is known that e-waste contains over thousand different substances. Heavy metals form a significant part of inorganic fraction of e-waste accounting for 20-50%. These include hazardous metallic elements like lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, arsenic, selenium and precious metals like silver, gold, copper and platinum. Since these elements are non-renewable in nature there recovery from e-waste stream is the key. This paper, based on previous studies carried out by authors; make an effort to propose an innovative strategic model for the recovery of valuable metal for the management of e-waste by employing combined technological strategies viz. chemical and biological. Chemical technology involves the leaching of silver from electronic scrap using toxic chemical like cyanide. The complex silver-cyanide form is then subjected to biological technology using passive low-cost material. The strategy proposed by the authors will help to strengthen supply chain elements for efficient management of e-waste.
Keywords: E-waste management, Combined strategy, Industrial symbiosis, Valuable metals, Technology management
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