Mobile Phone Recycling system

chain

steps:
1) collection,
2)sorting/dismantling and pre-processing (incl. sorting, dismantling, mechanical

treatment) and
3) end-processing (incl. refining and disposal)

Recycling chain

of crucial importance as this determines the amount of material
that

is actually available for recovery

liberate the materials and direct them
to adequate subsequent final treatment

processes.
Small, highly complex electronic devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players etc. can (after removal of the battery) also be treated directly by an end-processor to recover the metals.

above, the remainder of the ICT, cooling or television devices

can be further separated in the material
output streams by manual dismantling or mechanical shredding and (automated) sorting
techniques. Fractions are usually iron, aluminium, copper, plastic etc. It is of utmost
importance that the generated output streams meet the quality requirements of the feed
materials for the end-processors.

The final metals recovery from output fractions after pre-treatment takes place at three
main destinations. Ferrous fractions are directed to steel plants for recovery of iron,
aluminium fractions are going to aluminium smelters, while copper/lead fractions, circuit
boards and other precious metals containing fractions are going to e.g. integrated metal
smelters, which recover precious metals, copper and other non-ferrous metals, while
isolating the hazardous substances.

mobile phones are smelted together with other materials
in a furnace

or smelter at high temperatures to separate the valuable metals, while the
organic compounds are converted to energy. Thereafter, different pyrometallurgy,
hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy unit operations are used in the most
appropriate/adequate combination to deliver an optimal recovery of materials. An example is
shown in Figure.

chain is thus crucial to achieve a good overall efficiency

and to be able to anticipate
future developments. Moreover, transparency, accuracy and verification of the actual flows of
materials along the recycling chain are important for all stakeholders. Authorities and
manufacturers need certainty about the actual performance of the involved recycling
operations (in achieving resource efficiency and environmental compliance), so that the legal
or producer responsibility obligations of authorities and manufacturers are fulfilled.