Electrolysis of copper from waste printed circuit boards

Moderno doba obilježeno je uporabom ogromnog broja električnih i elektroničkih uređaja i opreme čiji se vijek trajanja smanjuje i ograničava na 5 do 7 godina. Posljedica je toga stvaranje velike količine električnog i elektroničkog otpada. Tiskane pločice neophodni su dijelovi elektroničke opreme. Recikliranje otpadnih tiskanih pločica usredotočuje se na ponovno dobivanje vrijednih metala – u našem slučaju bakra koji je najzastupljeniji metal u sastavu tiskanih pločica. S obzirom na to da je prosječni sadržaj bakra u bakrenoj rudi 0,5%, a prosječni sadržaj metala u tiskanim pločicama 30%, od čega bakar čini od 60 do 70%, nameće se potreba dobivanja bakra oporabom otpada. Svrha ovog rada bila je prikazati jednu od mogućnosti recikliranja i oporabe otpadnih tiskanih pločica. Opisan je tehnološki postupak elektrolitskog rafiniranja, odnosno dobivanje bakra iz tiskanih pločica postupkom elektrolize. Vrlo važne prednosti dobivanje bakra iz tiskanih pločica postupkom elektrolize očituju se i u energetskoj učinkovitosti metode i okolišno prihvatljivom postupku koji čuva okoliš i zdravlje ljudi.The modern age is marked by the use of a huge number of electrical and electronic devices and equipment whose lifespan is reduced and limited to the period from 5 to 7 years. This results in the generation of large amounts of electrical and electronic waste. Printed circuit boards are essential parts of electronic equipment. Recycling of waste printed circuit boards focuses on the recovery of valuable metals – in our case copper which is the most abundant metal in the composition of printed circuit boards. Since the average copper content in copper ore is 0.5% and the average metal content in printed circuit boards is 30%, in which the share of copper ranges from 60 to 70%, there is a need to obtain copper by recovering waste. The purpose of this thesis was to present one of the possibilities of recycling and recovery of waste printed circuit boards. The technological process of electrolytic refining, i.e. obtaining copper from printed circuit boards by electrolysis, is described. Very important advantages of obtaining copper from printed circuit boards by electrolysis are manifested through energy efficiency of the method and the environmentally friendly process that protects the environment and human health