Electronic Waste Recycling: Advances and Transformation into Functional Devices

The consumption of technological products has increased in recent years, creating electronic waste. This book presents literature on electronic waste recycling as an alternative route to engineering and realizing functional devices based on unusual material properties. It explains the use of waste materials and their unusual properties for signal processing, sensing, and reconfigurable operation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 154 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2023
Publisher: Jenny Stanford Publishing

The consumption of technological products has surged in recent years, driven by the modern industrial revolution, which has seen people acquire innovative hardware based on semiconductor devices. However, this lifestyle may not be sustainable in the coming decades due to the global issue of electronic waste, caused by either mass-manufactured products or hardware that has become outdated.

This book presents accessible and organized literature on electronic waste recycling as an alternative route to engineering and realizing functional devices based on unusual material properties. It is a comprehensive study on the usage of electronic waste and describes all aspects related to the state-of-the-art production, consumption, and recycling of materials. The book explains the use of waste materials and the ways in which their unusual properties can be the basis of innovative devices for signal processing, sensing, and reconfigurable operation.

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is a growing concern worldwide due to the rapid increase in the production and consumption of electronic devices. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the world generated approximately 42 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2019, with the rate of e-waste generation expected to double by 2030. E-waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can harm human health and the environment if not properly disposed of.

One of the main challenges facing electronic waste recycling is the lack of a standardized and efficient recycling process. Electronic devices are often designed with different materials and components, making it difficult to recycle them in a single process. Additionally, the increasing complexity of electronic devices makes it difficult to disassemble and recover valuable materials, leading to the generation of waste during the recycling process.

To address these challenges, researchers have developed various recycling techniques, such as mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and thermal recycling. Mechanical recycling involves the physical separation of materials from electronic devices, such as plastics, metals, and glass. Chemical recycling involves the chemical breakdown of electronic devices to recover valuable materials, such as metals and plastics. Thermal recycling involves the use of heat to break down electronic devices and recover valuable materials, such as metals and plastics.

Despite these advances, electronic waste recycling remains a complex and challenging process. There are several barriers to the recycling of electronic waste, including the lack of infrastructure, the high cost of recycling, and the lack of awareness and education about electronic waste recycling. Additionally, the growing demand for electronic devices and the short lifespan of many electronic devices make it difficult to reduce the generation of electronic waste.

In conclusion, electronic waste recycling is a critical issue that requires urgent attention. The consumption of technological products has increased in recent years, driven by the modern industrial revolution, which has seen people acquire innovative hardware based on semiconductor devices. However, this lifestyle may not be sustainable in the coming decades due to the global issue of electronic waste, caused by either mass-manufactured products or hardware that has become outdated. To address this issue, researchers have developed various recycling techniques, such as mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and thermal recycling. However, electronic waste recycling remains a complex and challenging process, with several barriers to the recycling of electronic waste, including the lack of infrastructure, the high cost of recycling, and the lack of awareness and education about electronic waste recycling. Additionally, the growing demand for electronic devices and the short lifespan of many electronic devices make it difficult to reduce the generation of electronic waste.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789814877893