Electrostatic separation for recycling waste printed circuit board: a study on external factor and a robust design...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Electrostatic separation is a key eco-friendly technology for recycling waste printed circuit boards (PCBs).
• Current methods face inefficiencies due to external factors like nonconductive powder (NP) and surface moisture in the feed mixture.
• Optimizing the separator alone has not resolved these persistent issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of external factors on electrostatic separation efficiency for waste PCBs.
• To develop a robust design and identify optimal parameters to mitigate adverse effects.
• To propose supplementary methods for enhancing the industrial application of PCB recycling.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of external factors influencing electrostatic separation.
• Robust design methodology applied to optimize process parameters.
• Identification of a robust parameter setting: 25 kV and 80 rpm.
• Theoretical exploration of complementary techniques like cyclone separation.

Main Results:

• External factors, specifically nonconductive powder and superficial moisture, significantly impair separation efficiency.
• A robust design approach successfully identified optimal operating conditions (25 kV, 80 rpm).
• Cyclone separation was proposed as a viable method to address feed material issues.

Conclusions:

• External factors are critical limitations in waste PCB electrostatic separation.
• A robust parameter setting of 25 kV and 80 rpm enhances process stability and efficiency.
• Integrating methods like cyclone separation offers a substantial improvement for industrial PCB recycling.