Analytical Study on the RoHS of Plastic from Waste Electrical and Electronic Appliances

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, South Korea

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, NFC-Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify emission characteristics of certain hazardous substances
contained in the plastic of used home electrical and electronic appliances keeping in view compliance with the
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and to estimate the possibility of safe recycling
practices. According to the results, the concentration of cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium were found
below than Maximum Concentration Value (MCV) of RoHS, while the concentration of total bromine (T-Br)
was exceeded the standard limitations in the samples of plastic from e-waste. Over 90% of the plastics used
in housing cover of display electronic products were composed of Polystyrene (PS) 53.9% and PS-flame
retardants 36.4%.Peak of each hazardous substance in total samples also showed higher values of bromine,
cadmium and lead. In order to enhance cleaner recycling of waste electronic appliances in accordance with the allowance of RoHS Directive, the use of brominated flame retardants in plastic and chrominated synthetic
resins should be restricted and applications of metal surface finishing such as coating and painting of high
molecules synthetic resins should be minimized.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 7, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
October 2013
Pages 903-908

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