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HERO ID
6632285
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Mechanical methods of recycling plastics from WEEE
Author(s)
Makenji, K; Savage, M; ,
Year
2012
Publisher
WOODHEAD PUBL LTD
Location
CAMBRIDGE
Book Title
WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE) HANDBOOK
Page Numbers
212-238
Web of Science Id
WOS:000315594400011
URL
http://
://WOS:000315594400011
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is also published as
11110287
Mechanical methods of recycling plastics from WEEE
Abstract
This chapter discusses the techniques used for mechanically recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEE). Discarded personal computers (PCs), TVs, kitchen and audio equipment are among the most popular items to be recycled, yielding valuable polymers such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate and different varieties of polystyrene. The process of mechanical recycling is to collect, sort, size reduce, separate and densify these wastes, economically and effectively. The effectiveness of separation techniques such as flotation, hydro-cyclone, air tabling, near infra-red and electrostatic sorting are examined. The variations in effective WEE collection and treatment among European Union member states are also discussed. Future work with WEE plastics is based on the acceptable use of immiscible polymers through processing or chemical modification. An alternative area of research is to make the polymers easier to separate and research appears to be ongoing to minimise the use of different polymer types in a product, making the recycling process far simpler.
Editor(s)
Goodship, V; Stevels, A;
ISBN
978-0-85709-089-8
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