Impact of Grinding of Printed Circuit Boards on the Efficiency of Metal Recovery by Means of Electrostatic Separation

This paper analyses the impact of method grinding printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a knife mill on efficiency and purity products obtained during electrostatic separation. The separated metals plastics ceramics can be used as secondary raw materials. is line with principle circular economy. Three different screen perforations were to obtain sizes ground grains. Moreover, effect cooling feed cryogenic temperature final separation was investigated. level contamination concentrate, intermediate, waste result application fixed, determined parameters assessed using ICP-AES, SEM–EDS, XRD, microscopic analysis well specific density. yields grain classes from tested through sieve by particle size analyser. test results indicate that 1 mm perforation along significantly improves process. characterised highest release useful substance—metals free state. concentrate satisfactory, content which conglomerates solid metal–plastic connections present, very low. yield amounted 26.2% 71.0%, respectively. Their purity, reflected identified (valuable metals), at 93.3% 0.5%, In order achieve effective recovery PCBs means separation, one should strive composed grains <1000 ?m and, optimally, <800 ?m.