EXTRACTION OF TIN FROM WASTE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD IN HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESS

Abstract

This era of electronics is creating an ambivalent situation for human civilizations. The waste stream coming through this pipeline causing hazardous environment and performing the role of secondary resources of value metals. The printed circuit board is the point of attraction as it acts as the brain of the whole system. Thus it has to carry the elements those have good electrical and mechanical properties. However, to satisfy the requirement, the value and hazardous elements are used there at the same time. When Gold, Silver, Copper etc. are used mostly for their conductivity, Tin is mostly used as a soldering material. As energy sources are fixed for planet earth, resources should be taken care of. Recycling of used appliances is a great option where value metal like Tin can be extracted and reused. In this study, hydrometallurgy process is used. Dissolving PCBs into strong nitric acid media and cemetation by Zn powder may yield 86% Tin of pure form. Hydrometallurgical routes are found to be the most efficient to recover value metals.