ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENT OF TECHNOLOGY CRITICAL METALS IN THE E-WASTE

Abstract

The article analyzes the presence of selected metals, classified as Technology Critical Elements (TCE), in electrical and electronic devices. Metals belonging to the group of critical metals (Germanium), strategic metals (Tellurium), and very toxic elements (Thallium) were analyzed. Due to the low content of these metals in e-waste, they are usually ignored during e-waste analysis. This means that these metals belong among the least known metals in the literature on waste recycling. Their presence in e-waste can cause them to focus on the environment during improper processing of e-waste. The article discusses electronic components in which Ge, Te, Tl, and analysis of the possibility of entering the environment during recycling processes, are found. It allows determining the possibility getting of these metals into the environment, during the storage and processing of e-waste (especially in the unit processes of disassembly, separation, and shredding), in the case of uncontrolled electronic waste handling and disposal.