Assessment of critical factors in waste electrical and el 2022 Science of Th

Excessive waste is continually accumulating owing to increased consumption, particularly of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), leading to waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This study aims to explore the polymer composition and critical factors affecting the recyclability of WEEE plastics, which constitute about one-third of WEEE. Using portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the research identifies the polymer types present in WEEE. The primary findings reveal that acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is the dominant polymer identified among various other types, while a concerning proportion of unidentified polymers was detected. Furthermore, a positive correlation was established between the presence of bromine and an unidentified polymer, raising concerns about the treatment of harmful substances that may hinder effective recycling. This study demonstrates that bromine is absent in bromine-free plastics, affirming the efficacy of industrial classification processes in identifying WEEE polymers. The findings suggest critical implications for enhancing the recyclability of plastics within the WEEE stream.