Aug 2026· Clean Technology· Vol 8, pp. 129· 0 citations· 34 references
Abstract
The fastest growing waste stream worldwide is represented by Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). One of the main critical issues related to the recovery of such waste is the mixed plastic fraction, which is difficult to sort and can contain flame retardants and additives that pose a risk to human health and the environment. This study aims to validate the possibility of using tribo-electrostatic separator technologies to sort plastic polymers (e.g., PP, PA6, PS and PVC) obtained after a size-reduction operation of WEEE. The experimental study was conducted on a 10 kg/h laboratory-scale pilot plant. Several parameters were analysed during the tribo-charging and electrostatic separation processes, including the rotation speed and residence time of the particles in the tribo-charging device as well as electrode voltage, and the distance between the deflectors and the electrodes in the electrostatic separator. The results show that the tribo-electrostatic separation technologies are promising and efficient for plastic waste recycling. In fact, under specific conditions, it is possible to achieve high recovery rates (>70%) and purity levels (>76%) that allow the reintegration of plastic polymers into the economic cycle as a secondary raw material.
Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) represent a highly complex waste stream. Copper and insulating layers are integrated into a dense composite material that is populated with a diversity of electronic components (ECs) mounted with tin-based solder. This results in a high material variety, which poses a major challe...
Fabian Kadisch, Patrick J. Teuwisse, S. Abrahami et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
The rapid growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has made this stream both an environmental challenge and a valuable secondary source of critical raw materials. Global e-waste generation reached approximately 62 Mt in 2022, while printed circuit boards may contain around 15–30 wt.% Cu, illustrating the considerable resou...
D. Hidalgo, R. Timmers, P. Moretti et al.· Applied Sciences· 0 citations
The global economy is confronted by two parallel grand challenges: the unsustainable accumulation of plastic waste and the escalating demand for high-performance, sustainable energy storage technologies. This perspective operates at the nexus of these challenges and establishes a conceptual roadmap for upcycling post-c...
A. Belgibayeva, A. Zhumabekova, Z. Arkasheva et al.· Polymers· 0 citations
Plastics waste is a growing concern for humanity, due to its significant environmental impact. This work focuses on repurposing single-use plastic, specifically low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and redirecting it from landfills towards a second-life application in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Through sulfonation and py...
Kelly Murphy, Rebecca Forde, Misbah Mushtaq et al.· Nanoscale· 0 citations
The exponential accumulation of non-degradable polymer waste poses a severe environmental challenge. In order to achieve high-value recycling and meet the demand for advanced energy storage, this study converts various polymer wastes into high-performance porous carbon (PC) electrode materials for supercapacitors. The...
Bei-Fang Wang, Xiang-Meng Guo· International Journal of Ren...· 0 citations
Discarded smartphone printed circuit boards (PCBs) contain high-value CPU and ROM components with reuse potential. This study investigated a thermally assisted separation strategy integrating thermal-process evaluation, mechanical analysis, and VOC characterization. A purposive set of 20 used smartphone models was exam...
