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| Author(s): |
Luciana Harue Yamane
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2012-04-26 |
| Examining board members: |
Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório;
Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa;
Marcelo Borges Mansur;
Viviane Tavares de Moraes;
Hugo Marcelo Veit
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| Advisor: | Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório |
| Abstract | |
Consumption of electric and electronic devices, especially personal computers, coupled with technological advances, decreases equipments lifespan in each generation and intense marketing generates a rapid replacement process. Printed circuit boards are found in all electric and electronic equipment and are particularly problematic to recycle because of the heterogeneous mix of organic material, metals, and fiberglass. Printed circuit boards are industrially recycled by hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processes. Bioleaching, which is based on microorganisms capacity to dissolve metals into soluble elements, can be used to metal recovery from printed circuit boards of computers. This study investigated metal recovery from printed circuit boards of obsolete computers by biohydrometallurgical process. Printed circuit boards from obsolete computers were processed by size reduction followed by magnetic and electrostatic separation. Bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-LR were grown and adapted in presence of printed circuit board. A shake-flask study was carried out with printed circuit board samples (non-magnetic material). Influence of bacterial adaptation, pulp density, rotation speed and initial Fe+2 concentrations on bioleaching were evaluated. Leaching in acidic ferric sulphate was also performed for comparison purposes. Analyzed parameters were: pH, Eh, ferrous iron concentration, metals extraction, EDS and SEM analysis. Characterization results shown that through magnetic separation, it is possible to obtain two fractions: magnetic material, which concentrated iron; and non-magnetic material, which concentrated copper, zinc, aluminum, tin and gold. Results obtained in the extraction of copper, zinc and aluminum allowed to define optimal conditions of bioleaching: pulp density of 15gL-1, inoculums volume (adapted bacteria) of 10% (v/v), rotation speed of 170rpm, and Fe+2 initial concentration of 6.75gL-1. Ferric iron leaching extracted less copper (35%) than bioleaching, but its a contribute factor as leaching promoted by diluted sulfuric acid. SEM analysis shown surface differences between non-magnetic material before and after bioleaching, showing corrosion pits formed by bacteria contact. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/53254-1 - Recuperação de metais de placas de circuito impresso de computadores obsoletos através de processo biohidrometalurgico |
| Grantee: | Luciana Harue Yamane |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |