E-waste

Abstract

Chapter 5 overviews significant applications of ionic liquids (ILs) within the valorization of electrical and electronic waste (E-waste). E-waste incorporates base (e.g., iron, aluminum, and copper) and precious metals (e.g., gold, silver, platinum, and palladium), intertwined with plastics that can be recovered and recycled. Current e-waste valorization is achieved through disassembly, upgrading, and refining resorting to metallurgical processing. However, the use of acids and alkalis or volatile solvents in lengthy, multi-stage, energy-intensive, and polluting processes constrains the sustainable credentials of e-waste valorization. To overcome these issues, ILs have been applied in e-waste valorization as alternative dismantling agents, leaching mediators, and/or extraction solvents, which are overviewed and discussed here.