A thermodynamic-based life cycle assessment of precious metal recycling out of waste printed circuit board through secondary copper smelting

Abstract

This study provides an environmental impact assessment of the black copper smelting route for the processing and recovery of copper and other valuable metals such as gold and silver from waste printed circuit boards (PCB). Thermodynamic based analysis was conducted to simulate the recycling process and a life cycle assessment was carried out to estimate and compare the environmental impact of the two scenarios: (1) recycling of precious metal …