Novel physical separation process for eco-friendly recycling of rare and valuable metals from end-of-life DVD-PCBs

Abstract

Present paper reports a simple and eco-friendly physical separation process for the recycling of metallic values from PCBs.The separation of material is based on distribution of metallic and non-metallic constituents in different size fractions depending on their liberation size due to their malleable or ductile nature. The studies showed the enrichment of metals in coarser particles (1000 + 150 lm) and non- metals in the fine particles 150 lm following pneumatic separation and froth flotation process.A grade of 88% with 75%recovery was achieved by froth flotation,but lower grade of 75% with 65% recovery were obtained by pneumatic separation with 1500 lm powder.Overall grade of metals was achieved up to 88% by controlling the feed and air flow rates during pneumatic separation.Using this beneficiation technique, the concentration of rare metals in the different fractions varying from 1.88%to 4.18%was enriched up to 9%.