Recovery of metal fractions from waste printed circuit boards via the vibrated gas-solid fluidized bed

Abstract

Abstract The vibrated gas-solid fluidized bed based on fluidized separation technology was used to recycle the metallic fraction of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). The size fraction composition and element distribution of the crushed products were analyzed by sieving and X-ray fluorescence, respectively. The contents of Cu, Zn, Fe and Ti in various size fractions had significant differences, resulting in preliminary enrichment. The performance of vibration on the fluidization characteristics of WPCBs powder was described. With fluidization number, vibration frequency and vibration amplitude as variables, the separation performance of WPCBs powder under various operational conditions was studied. With the optimum operated conditions, the optimal recovery rates of metallic fraction of the three size fractions of 1–0.5\xa0mm, 0.5–0.25\xa0mm and 0.25–0.125\xa0mm were 88.53%, 95.61% and 82.28%, respectively. The vibrated gas-solid fluidized bed can effectively enrich and recover the metallic fraction of WPCBs, providing convenience for subsequent separation.