Toxic Metal Recovery from Waste Printed Circuit Boards: A Review of Advanced Approaches for Sustainable Treatment Methodology

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technical advancements has resulted in the generation of substantial amount of electronic trash (e-waste). The volume of e-waste created, as well as the presence of both dangerous and beneficial elements, enhances the business potential of recovery and recycling significantly. Waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) include a number of hazardous heavy metals, including copper (Cu), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and others (Zn, Ni, Fe, Br, Mn, Mg etc.). These discarded metals without treatment threaten the economy, the environment, and human health. Heavy metal recovery from PCBs is a big difficulty for researchers. The present review focuses on technological advances in the recovery of toxic, precious metals from PCBs.