APPLIED CHEMISTRY

STUDY MATERIAL

FOR THE STUDENTS OF I/II SEM. B.E.

(BIT AUTONOMOUS SCHEME - 2024)
For CS, AIML, DS, ICand IS Branches

Dr. N. Suresha.
M.Sc., B.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry
Bangalore Institute of Technology, B`lore
 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

Module-V
E-Waste Management
Syllabus
[E-Waste management: Introduction, sources of e-waste, composition and characteristics of e-waste,
effects of e-waste on environment and human health. Need of e-waste management.

Recycling and Recovery techniques: Different approaches of recycling (separation, thermal treatments,
hydrometallurgical extraction, pyrometallurgical methods and direct recycling of e-waste). Extraction of
gold from E-waste.

Role of stakeholders in environmental management of e-waste (producers, consumers, recyclers, and

statutory bodies)].

E-waste management:

Solid waste refers to all non-liquid garbage arising from animal and human activities that are
discarded as unwanted and useless. It can be categorized based on materials such as plastic, paper,
glass, metal, demolition materials, wood, pesticides, insecticides and organic waste.
Based on the source, the solid waste can be classified into three types.
i. Electronic solid waste (e-waste)
ii. Municipal solid waste
iii. Bio-medical solid waste

E-waste can be defined as electronic and electrical equipments/products that have become obsolete
due to the change in fashion, style, status and attaining the end of their useful life.

E-Waste Management is a planned process of collection, transportation and disposal of e-waste

materials in safe and economic manner. Everyday tons of e-waste is disposing at various landfill
sites and recycling units.

E-wastes are considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products contain
materials like mercury, lead, antimony, phosphorus etc., which are hazardous and poses threat to
human health and environment.

Sources:Discarded computers, televisions. VCRs. stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps,
cell phones, audio equipment’s, DVDs, CDs, washing machines, microwave ovens, mother boards.
PCBs, batteries, etc.

E-waste Classification: The European Union Directive divides e-waste into the following
categories:

1. Huge Household appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothe dryers,

dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, etc.

2. Information and Communication Technology equipment (ICT): minicomputers, laptops,

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

notebooks, printers, telephones and cell phones.

3. Consumer equipment’s: radios, televisions, audio/video recorders, audio amplifiers and

musical instruments.

4. Electrical and electronic tools: CFL tubes, incandescent lamps, LEDs, switches, drilling
machine, sewing machine, grinding machine, etc.

5. Toys and sporting goods: electric trains or race cars, video games and sports equipment
with electric elements.

6. Medical devices: radiotherapy equipment, cardiology equipment, dialysis equipment,

pulmonary ventilators, etc.

7. Monitoring devices: smoke detectors, sugar detectors, heating regulators, etc.

8. Automatic dispensers: all appliances that automatically deliver various products like ATM.

9. Batteries and circuits: Primary and secondary batteries, PCBs, etc.

Composition of E-waste: E-waste contains many components depending on the type of

electronic/electrical device. They contain-

i. Metals (40-60%):
 Valuable metals like gold, platinum, silver, palladium, etc.
 Useful metals like aluminium, copper, iron, etc.
 Hazardous materials like, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, radioactive substances, etc.
ii. Plastics materials (20-30%):
 Bio-degradable materials- Poly lactic acid, etc.
 Non-biodegradable materials- High impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
(ABS), polycarbonate, poly phenylene oxide, etc.
iii. Glass materials (5-10%):
 Cathode ray emission tube, transparent electrodes used in LEDs, glass made of SiO2,
CaO, NaO, etc.
iv. Electronic components (5-10%): Resistors, transistors, capacitors, etc.
v. Toxic substances: Brominated flame retardants, dioxins, etc.

For instance: i. Cathode ray tubes, found in televisions and computers contain lead, mercury,
cadmium, beryllium and brominated flame retardants.
ii. A mobile phone/smart phone contains more than 50 different components, including base metals
(copper, tin), special metals (cobalt,indium, antimony) and precious metals (silver, gold, palladium).
iii. The lithium-ion battery contains about 3.5 grams of cobalt. Iron and steel constitute about
50% of the waste, followed by plastics (21%), non-ferrous metals (13%) and other constituents.
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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

Non-ferroųs metals consist of metals like copper, aluminium and precious metals like silver, gold,
platinum, palladium and so on.

Characteristics of E-waste: Information and data on characteristics of e-waste are important for
selecting a suitable disposal technique.

i. Hazardous materials: Electronic waste consists of large number of components, some of

which contain hazardous materials. Ex. Flame retardants used in plastics, non-biodegradable
materials like PVC, Pb, Hg, Cd, etc. If not properly disposed, these substances can harm
human health and environment.

ii. Non-hazardous materials: E-waste contains valuable metals like iron, copper, aluminum
and noble metals like gold, silver, platinum. They also need to be separated by proper
recycling methods before discarding the e-waste to save natural resources.

iii. Non-biodegradable materials: E-waste contains materials like Teflon, ABS, etc., do not
break down naturally. They can remain in sol long period of time.

iv. Rapid obsolete materials: Some electronic devices obsolete quickly and contribute to the
e-waste stream. So, care to be taken while discarding such devices.

E-Waste Disposal Methods: All electronic waste is made up of deadly chemicals such as lead,
cadmium, beryllium, mercury and brominated flame retardants. Improper dispose of e-waste
increases the chances of these dangerous chemicals contaminating the soil, polluting the air and
leaching into water bodies. So, care to be taken while disposing e-waste. There are various methods
available for the disposal of e- waste to minimize pollution.

1. Landfills:It is the most common and oldest e-waste disposal method where, waste is directly
disposed into a large pit or trench and is covered with a thin layer of soil. The pits are lined
with clay or plastic with a leachate basin to prevent the leeching of toxic waste into the
surrounding environment.

Note-Narela-Bawana in New Delhi is the only scientific landfill in India. It has the capacity to
treat 2000 MT of waste every day, generating 24 megawatts of electricity.

2. Recycling: It is a process of taking useful things from discarded items for next use. Before
recycling, separate the materials like paper, glass, plastics, metals, rubber etc., from waste.
i. Primary recycling involves processing of waste/scrap into materials that have
characteristics similar to those of original material. Ex. Remoulding of plastics, Recovery
of valuable metals.
ii. Secondary recycling involves processing of waste/scrap into materials that have
characteristics different from those of original material. Ex. Organic waste is used for
making compost, which can be used as manure.
iii. Tertiary recycling involves the production of basic chemicals and fuels from plastic wastes
using a suitable chemical processes such as pyrolysis.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

3. Reuse: This is a most environmental friendly e-waste disposal technique, where possible
components of e-waste can be reused. Ex. Plastic jars of jams, pickles, oil, etc. which are in good
condition can be used to store salt, spices, sugar, etc.With slight modifications, the mobile
phones, computers, laptops, printers can be reused or given as second hand product to the other
person. The old electronic equipment can also be donated to the various charity programs and
thus helping the persons in need.

4. Incineration:This process is usually selected to treat the wastes that cannot be recycled, reused
or disposed in landfills. It involves the burning of e-waste in an incinerator unit at around 900 oC
to 10,000 oC until the wastes are turned into ashes. It reduces the volume and weight of waste for
safe disposal in outer landfills. Also, heat energy released during burning can be used to generate
electricity.

Toxic materials used in manufacturing electronic and electrical products: Electronic and
electrical products contain number of hazardous substances, including mercury, lead, cadmium,
hexavalent chromium, barium, lithium, arsenic, polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated
diphenyl ethers,glass, plastic softeners, adhesives, etc.

Ill effects of toxic materials present in E-waste: Long-term exposer to e-waste causes health and
environmental problems.

i) Electronic waste contains toxic components such as mercury, lead, cadmium,

polybrominated flame retardants, etc., are dangerous to human health. They damage brain,
heart, liver, kidney, reproductive systems of the human body and skeletal system.

ii) Exposure to lead from e-waste recycling activities causes hyperactivity disorder,
behavioural problems and changes in child temperament.

iii) Fumes release during burning of insulated wires and cables to obtain copper causes
neurological disorders and cancers.

iv) Acute exposure to cadmium found in semiconductors and chip resistors, can damage the
kidneys and liver.

v) Long-term exposure to lead found in printed circuit boards, computers and television
screens can damage the central and peripheral nervous system and kidneys.

vi) Informal disposal of e-waste releases dust particles of heavy metals and flame retardants
into the atmosphere that causes air pollution.

vii) Improper disposal of e-waste in regular landfills or in places where it is dumped illegally,
both heavy metals and flame retardants can seep directly from the e-waste into the soil,
causing contamination of soil and groundwater and crops that are planted nearby.

viii) The entry of acids form e-waste into the water increases its acidic nature which can kill the
marine and freshwater organisms, disturbing biodiversity and harm ecosystems.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

ix) The improper burning of e-waste releases harmful hydrocarbons which can contribute to
greenhouse effect.

x) Lead, mercury inhibits the production of haemoglobin causing anaemia and decreases the
oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

Need of E-waste Management:A planned process of collection, transportation and disposal of e-

waste in safe and economic manner is called e-waste management. This helps to-

i. Reduce landfill sites: The more we recycle the less waste we generate, which applies to all
kinds of waste. So, recycling reduces the usage of land for landfills. Reduced landfill sites
allow more land to be utilized for more purposes such as agriculture, housing development,
etc.

ii. Preserve natural resources: Recycling helps to recover valuable materials from e-waste
which can be used to produce new materials. This saves and conserves natural resources.
This way manufacturers do not need to mine the minerals, instead they can recycle and reuse
the components of e-waste. Thus, it promotes the utilization of resources wisely.

iii. Prevent toxic chemicals from polluting the ecosystem: Electronic components contain a
number of toxic chemicals such as nickel, cadmium, lithium, mercury and lead. During
burying e-waste in landfills, these toxic chemicals leach into our soil, waterways and
ecosystem, causing long-term damage to our health and environment. This can be prevented
by proper recycling of e-waste.

iv. Reduce manufacturing cost:Components obtained from recycling of e-waste are cheaper
than those obtained from mining activities. Therefore the usage of recycled components in
the manufacturing of new materials reduces the manufacturing cost.

v. Prevent environmental issues:E-waste contains hazardous materials that can contaminate

the soil, air and water, posing severe health risks to human and animal life. A proper
disposal of e-waste reduces environmental problems.

vi. Prevent loss of data: Secured disposal of e-waste prevents the loss of data.

vii. Reduce energy consumption: Energy required to recover valuable metals from e-waste
through recycling is lesserthan the energy required to extract metals from their ores. So,
energy consumption and green gas emission can be reduced.

viii. Reduce legal complications:A proper management of e-waste reduces the legal
complications arise between stake holders and government.

Recycling of E-waste:

E-waste recycling is the process of extracting valuable materials from waste. A basic flow sheet
diagram of recycling is shown below. It consists of three main steps: collection and sorting, pre-
processing and end processing. Each step is critical for the recovery of metals.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

The first step involves sorting of components in unwanted or useless electronic materials. The
expired equipments are manually dismantled at collection facilities and individual components are
tested and isolated from e-waste. At this stage, housing, wiring boards, drives and other components
are to be separated. If these parts are still functional, they can reused for building new products.

Pre-processing of e-waste is one of the most important steps in the recycling process. Mechanical
processing is an integrated part of this stage where e-waste scrap is shredded into pieces using
hammer mills. Then, metals and non-metals are separated during this stage using techniques like
screening, magnetic separation, eddy current and density separation techniques.Ferromagnetic
materials like iron and steel are separated using magnetic separator. Paramagnetic materials like
copper, aluminium, etc. are separated using Eddy current. The other non-magnetic materials like
plastics are can be separated by density separation method. This process is utmost important as the
waste contains hazardous materials and must be performed by skilful workers.

The final stage in the recycling is the end processing, where the non-metal and metal fractions of e-
waste are further processed for recycling and utilization.

 The metallic fraction of e-waste can be further processed to separate or extract minor
metals/elements using various metallurgical processes and utilised for manufacturing new
products/equipments.
 The non-metallic fraction of e-waste (wasted PCBs contain >70 % of non-metallic fractions)
are recycled and utilised for the production of new substances. Ex. a non-metallic composite
plate produced using pulverized PCBs combined with CaCO3, unsaturated polyesters,
polystyrene, glass fiber, zinc stearate and pigments possess comparable mechanical properties
to those of plastics.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

 Other recycling routes for non-metallic PCB materials are based on chemical processes that
include gasification, pyrolysis and supercritical fluid de-polymerization for producing
chemical substances and fuels.
 Finally, the residue is subjected to safe disposal at landfills.

Extraction of metals from e-waste: There are several methods known to extract metals from e-
waste viz.

i. Pyro-metallurgy: It is widely used for the recovery of precious metals from e-waste.
ii. Bio-hydrometallurgy: It is majorly used to extract metals from metallic sulphides.
iii. Hydrometallurgy: It is majorly applied to recover noble metals from e-waste. It is more
promising technology due to its low cost, high selectivity and lower environmental impact.
iv. Direct recycling: It is promising, low energy consumption, environmental friendly and more
efficient method.

Steps involved in Pyro-metallurgy method:

Pyrometallurgical treatment for extraction and recovery of metals is done for the past two decades.
Here the precious metals and base metals are separated by eliminating the organic substances and
plastics. The treatment is done at an extreme temperature of 600 to 1200˚ C in the combustion,
where the sintering, melting and reactions in the gas phase occur. Currently, this is the most used
route for e-waste recycling. The steps involved are as follows.

i. Collection and sorting: Collect the E-waste containing valuable metals like copper, lead,
zinc, etc, and sort out to isolate components suitable for pyro-metallurgical processing.
ii. Shredding:Grind the sorted e-waste mechanically to reduce their size and enhance surface
area.
iii. Separation:Separate ferrous, non-ferrous metals and non-metals from the mixture by
magnetic, Eddy current and density separation methods.
iv. Smelting:The metallic mixture is then fed into a blast furnace and subject to high temperature
(over 1000oC). During smelting, the e-waste materials melt and metal rich components fused
together to form a molten mass called‘matte’.
v. Matte settling:The matte being denser than slag (a less valuable by-product formed during
smelting) settles at the bottom of the furnace due to its higher density.
vi. Blow air: Molten matte from the smelting furnace is poured into the converter, after which air
is blown to oxidize iron and sulphur. Sulphur goes off as sulphur dioxide gas and iron as iron
oxide slag. Copper converts into blister copper.
vii. Removal:Once the matte has settled,remove it from the bottom of furnace and collect for
further processing.
viii. Refining:It involves the recovery of high purity metals from the matte.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

i. Fire refining:In this method, metals present in matte are recovered in pure form by
fractional distillation. Ex. If matte contains Zn, Cd and Pb, lead boils at 1,744 °C, zinc at
907 °C and cadmium at 765 °C. In the first stage, zinc and cadmium are boiled off, leaving
liquid lead and in the second stage cadmium is boiled off to leave high-purity zinc metal.
ii. Electro refining:This method gives the highest-purity as well as the best recovery of
valuable metals. The impure metal is made as anode of an electrolytic cell and cathode
must be pure metal and immerse them in an electrolyte. When electricity is passed through
the cell, metal ionsdissolve from the anode and deposit on the cathode. The insoluble
sludge left in the cell is treated to recover any valuable by-product metals.
ix. Slag processing:The slag which contains metallic, non-metallic components and other
impurities is further processed to recover any valuable material or for safe disposal.
x. Collection of metal:The metal obtained after refining is collected in a suitable form for use in
various industries.

Pyrometallurgical recycling method is commonly used for metals like copper, lead, zinc and iron.
However,it may not be suitable for certain precious metals like gold which requires different
extraction processes due to their high values and lower abundance in e-waste.

Limitations of Pyro-metallurgical Process:

Pyro-metallurgical routes are generally more economical, eco-efficient and maximize the recovery
of PMs, however, they have certain limitations.

 Iron and aluminium recovery is not easy as they end up in the slag phase as oxides;
 Hazardous emissions such as dioxins are generated during smelting of feed materials
containing halogenated flame retardants.
 A large investment is required for installing integrated e-waste recycling plants that
maximize the recovery of valuable.
 Instant burning of fine dust of organic materials (e.g., non-metallic fractions of e-waste) can
occur before reaching the metal bath.
 Ceramic components in feed material can increase the volume of slag generated in the blast
furnaces, which thereby increases the risk of losing valuable metals.
 Partial recovery and purity of valuable metals are achieved by pyro-metallurgical routes.
Therefore, subsequent hydrometallurgical and electrochemical techniques are necessary to
extract pure metals.

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

Steps involved in Hydrometallurgical Process:

In this process, the targeted metals are leached into solutionof desired concentrationusing strong
acids or alkalis. Generally, H2O2, HNO3, NaOH, H2SO4, are the solvents used for leaching. After
the extraction of metals, they are concentrated by using various methods like cementation, solvent
extraction, chemical reduction, precipitation and ion exchange process. These methods are more
preferable than pyro-metallurgical processes because of the more exact recovery of precious metals,
predictable processes and can be controlled easily.

i. Collection and sorting:Collect the E-waste containing valuable metals like copper, lead,
zinc, gold, etc, and sort out to isolate components suitable for hydrometallurgical processing.
ii. Shredding:The sorted materials are crushed and grinded into smaller particles to increase the
surface area for efficient chemical reactions.
iii. Separation:Separate ferrous, non-ferrous metals and non-metals from the mixture by
magnetic, Eddy current and density separation methods.
iv. Leaching:The separated metallic mixture is mixed with a suitable leachant like acids, bases,
aquaregia, cyanide, thiourea, halides, etc., to create a leach solution.
v. Filtration:Some metals dissolve in leaching solution and remaining metals settle at the bottom
of vessel. Separate the residue and solution through filtration.
vi. Concentration:Concentrate the solution containing metal ions of interest to increase their
content in the solution and make subsequent processing more effective.
vii. Precipitation:Precipitate the concentrated metal ions to form a solid metal compoundusing a
suitable precipitating agent.
viii. Drying and calcination:The obtained metal compound is subjected to drying and calcination
to recover the metal.Ex.If a metal is less reactive than carbon, it can be extracted from its
oxide by heating with carbon. Carbon displaces the metal from metal oxideby removing
oxygen. This leaves the metal.
ix. Electrowinning: In some cases, an electric current is passed through the electrodes dipped in
solution containing metal ion of interest to deposit the metal on cathode surface. Here, anode
must be inert electrode and cathode must be pure form of metal to be recovered.

Limitations of Hydrometallurgy Process:

Hydrometallurgical routes have been successfully used to recover PMs from e-waste. However,
these processes are associated with certain disadvantages that limit their application on the
industrial scale.

 Overall, hydrometallurgical routes are slow and time consuming and impact recycling
economy.
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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

 Mechanical processing of e-waste takes longer to reduce size for efficient dissolution.
 Cyanide is a dangerous leachant and should therefore be used with high safety standards. It
can cause contamination of rivers and seawater.
 Halide leaching is difficult to implement due to strong corrosive acids and oxidizing
conditions.
 The use of thiourea leachants is limited in gold extraction due to its high cost and
consumption.
 There are risks of valuables loss during dissolution and subsequent steps.
Steps involved in Direct Recycling:

It is promising, low energy consumption, environmental friendly and more efficient method.
Normally it is used in the recycling of batteries. Ex. Recycling of lithium ion battery by direct
method is explained as follows.

Direct recycling of lithium-ion battery: It includes discharging, extraction of electrolyte,

disassembling, crushing, screening, magnetic separation, froth flotation, cathode-healing and
finally, building new cells with recycled cathode and anode.

Figure; Direct recycling process

Discharge and electrolyte extraction; To reduce the risk of explosion, combustion and poisonous
gas release during recovery process, spent LIBs need to be discharged before recycled. Discharge
the lithium-ion cells using sodium bicarbonate brine solution. Extract the electrolyte from battery
using liquid carbon dioxide.

Separation of materials:After removing the electrolyte, disassemble the cells and remove polymer
separators. Then crush anode/cathode cells into powder and separate cathode carbon black, binder
(PVDF), anode/cathode current collectors (Cu and Al) and anode/cathode active materials (graphite
and metal oxide),

 Remove binder and carbon black using solvents (N, N-dimethyl sulfoxide), thermal or
mechanical methods. It must be performed in a controlled manner through thermal
decomposition at 800°C without any additions.
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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

 Separate copper and aluminium with a recovery rate of 92% and 97%, respectively using
pneumatic separation method.
 Separate Graphite and metal oxide by Froth flotation process. Place the mixture in a vessel
and add surfactant. The mixture is agitated for 15–20 minutes to achieve a visible separation
of carbon (float) and metal oxide (sink). Decant the float immediately. The metal oxide settled
under gravity is collected and dried under vacuum.

Cathode-healing or re-lithiation:After separating the cathode material (metal oxide), it should be

re-lithiated hydrothermally by keeping the cathode in a sealed pressure vessel with a saturated,
aqueous lithium hydroxide solution. After hydrothermal treatment, remove the electrode material
from the vessel and rinse with deionized water. Then heat the cathode under air to 800 °C.

Reassembling of cell;Construct newLi-ion cells using recycled/rejuvenated lithium metal oxide

cathodes coated on aluminium current collector and graphite anodes coated on copper current
collector. The electrodes were stacked alternately and separated by porous polyethylene separators.
The electrolyte (LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/ethylmethyl carbonate) was imbibed into the cell and
sealed. The fully assembled cells develops a potential between 3.0-4.2V.

Extraction of gold from e-waste: Hydrometallurgy has gained importance all over the world and
majority of the gold extracting from e-waste is by this method. Steps involved in the process are -

i. Collection and Dismantling:Collect the e-waste containing gold and dismantle all the
components. The individual components are tested for gold content and isolated.
ii. Grinding: Grind the isolated components containing gold to pieces of size 1-2 mm.
iii. Mechanical separation:Separate metallic and non-metallic materials by density separation
method. Then, separate magnetic and non-magnetic materials using Eddy current.
iv. Leaching in nitric acid: Leach the non-magnetic materials in conc. HNO3 (65%) for about one
hour to remove the metals like Cu, Ag and Pb and decant the solution.
v. Leaching in aqua regia: Leach the residue in aqua regia solution (HCl + HNO3, 3:1 by
volume) so that gold particles dissolve in aqua regia. The reaction releases bubbles followed by
the sublimation of NO2 gas. The solution is then decanted and the pieces were subsequently
washed with 10 ml of conc. HCl so that all the gold content is fed into the solution.

Au + HNO3 + 4HCl → AuCl4− + NO + H3O+ + H2O

vi. Removal of excess nitric acid: Sulfuric acid is added to the solution to accelerate the removal
of nitric acid and sedimentation of lead as lead sulfate (if any) and decant the gold solution
after 45 minutes.
vii. Gold precipitation: Add Iron sulfate (4.2 g per gram of gold) or Sodium metabisulphite
slowly to the gold-containing solution to precipitate the gold. Allow the solution to stand so
that gold settle down at the bottom.
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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

viii. Washing and purifying the gold deposit: Wash the gold deposit with HCl to ensure the
cleanness of the gold. Finally, the precipitate is filtered, washed with large amounts of warm
water and dried in an oven at 100°C.
Role of stake holders in E-waste management

Stakeholders such as producers, consumers, recyclers and statutory bodies play essential role in the
management of e waste to ensure environmental sustainability and proper waste disposal.

Producers:Manufacturers and producers are responsible for designing electronic products that must
be eco-friendly. Their role involves incorporating eco-friendly materials, prompting product
durability and implementing take back programs to ensure responsible disposal and recycling of
useless electronics.

i. Eco-Design and Sustainable Manufacturing: Producers can reduce e-waste by designing

products that are: durable and long-lasting, easy to repair and upgrade, easier to disassemble and
recycle, free from hazardous substances.
ii. Consumer Awareness and Education: Manufacturers and producers can conduct seminars to:
encourage proper disposal and recycling, inform users about take-back options, and promote
reuse and donation.
iii. Collaboration with Recyclers: Producers often work with certified recyclers and retail partners
to: set up collection centres or drop-off points, track and report recycling data for regulatory
compliance.

Consumers: They are significant stakeholders as they generate e-waste through the disposal of old
electronic devices. Raising awareness among consumers about the importance of recycling,
encouraging proper e-waste disposal and participating in recycling programs are vital steps in
effective in waste management.

i. Responsible Consumption: Consumers can help reduce e-waste by: buying only what’s
needed, choosing durable, repairable products, supporting e-friendly brands.
ii. Proper Disposal of E-Waste: They can reduce e-waste generation by: Dropping items at
authorized centres or returning them through take-back programs, donating or selling functional
electronics, avoiding landfilling or burning.
iii. Spreading Awareness: They can create awareness in publics by: educating others about the
causes of improper e-waste disposal, Promoting sustainable practices within families, schools,
workplaces, etc.

Recyclers: They are responsible for processing and recycling discorded electronics. Recyclers
extract valuable materials and dispose hazardous substances in an environmentally friendly manner.
Proper recycling prevents reduces the use of land or landfills and contributes to resource
conservation. Their role includes:
i. Collection and Segregation: collecting e-waste from consumers, producers, or collection
centres, sorting items based on type (e.g., computers, phones, batteries) and condition
(repairable, recyclable, etc.).

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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

ii. Safe Dismantling: Carefully disassembling electronic devices to separate valuable components
(e.g., circuit boards, metals) from hazardous materials (e.g., mercury, lead, lithium) and
preventing harmful substances from entering the environment.
iii. Proper Disposal of Hazardous Waste: Ensuring toxic components (e.g., batteries, CRTs,
heavy metals) are disposed of in compliance with environmental regulations.
iv. Reporting and Documentation: Providing records of e-waste collection, processing, and
material recovery.

Statutory bodies:

i. Policy formulation: Statutory bodies formulate laws and regulations that govern the proper
handling, disposal and recycling of electronic waste. These policies outline the responsibilities
of various stakeholders such as manufacturers, consumers and recyclers.
ii. Enforcement:These bodies are responsible to ensure that the established e-waste
management working properly.Theymust do inspections, audits and investigations to identify
and penalize any violations or non-compliance with e-waste laws.
iii. Licensing and permit: Statutory bodies often issue licence or permits to the
individuals/organisations involved in e-waste managements.These licences must ensure that
whether the individuals/organisationsare following the standards and requirements set for safe
e-waste management.
iv. Monitoring and data collection: These bodies monitor the generation, collection,
transportation and disposal of e-waste by collecting data on e-waste quantities and disposal
methods. They can access the effectiveness of their regulations and make informed decisions
for improvements.
v. Awareness and education:These bodies create awareness about the ill-effects of improper e-
waste disposal and the benefits of recycling. They conduct campaigns, workshops and
educational programs to educate thepeople about proper disposal and recycling of e-waste.
vi. Innovation and research:They must support research and innovation in e-waste management
technology and processes. This can lead to the development of more efficient recycling
methods and strategies to minimise environmentalissues.
vii. Crisis management: In the event of e-waste related emergencies such as spills or accidents
during transportation or handling, these bodies co-ordinate responses to avoid environmental
and health risks.

Question Bank:

1. Mention the sources of e-waste and explain the need for e-waste management
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 Applied Chemistry study material (CS-stream)– Module -5: Dr. N Suresha, M.Sc., B.Ed,. M.Phil., Ph.D. BIT, B`lore

2. Explain the recycling of e-waste.

3. Explain the extraction of gold from e-waste
4. Explain the ill effects of toxic materials used in manufacturing electrical and electronic
products.
5. Explain the steps involved in pyrometallurgical recycling.
6. Describe direct recycling method.
7. Illustrate the steps involved in hydrometallurgical recycling process.
8. Write a brief note on the role of stakeholders for example; producers, consumers, recyclers,
in e-waste management.
9. Discuss the role of statutory bodies in e-waste management.

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