Project: Recycling of End-of-Life Products (PCB, ASR, LCD)

Acronym	RecEOL (Reference Number: ERA-MIN-2017_99)
Duration	01/05/2018 - 30/04/2021
Project Topic	RecEOL provides evidence that a patented recycling process for waste printed circuit board (PCB), LCDs, batteries and automobile shredder residue (ASR) is economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The project brings together industry and academia to solve the challenges of recycling above wastes while realising the business opportunities in recycling. PCBs are part of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) stream; one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU. The best way to increase the recycling rate will be to offer a highly profitable process to provide a financial incentive. PCBs are present in most electronic equipment such as televisions, computers or mobile phones. Hence RecEOL has global potential. The objective and expected outcome of the RecEOL project is to demonstrate (1) the capability of the process to recycle metals including critical (indium) and special (tantalum), (2) that the metal recycling yields are significantly improved over current processes, (3) that the process is economic and environmentally sustainable. RecEOL is applied research. The aim is to show on the pilot plant scale that the scaled-up commercial plant is economic. Hence, RecEOL must establish the metal yields, the kinetics, the mass balances to find the financial performance of a commercial plant. The technology offers many advantages over current technologies: 1. Yields: over 95% recycling rate of copper, steel and solder exceeding the current rates of 70-80%. Moreover, aluminium, solder and steel is separated and can be recovered. 2. Critical and special metals: for the first time, metals such as indium and tantalum will be recyclable. 3. All PCBs: even low value (TVs; low gold content) PCBs. 4. No shredding: highly energy efficient process. 5. Simple process from established industries: no moving parts, low capital cost. 6. Easy scale up: doubling the salt volume, doubles throughput of the continuous process. The project is an essential step towards the commercial implementation of the RecEOL process.
Website	visit project website
Network	ERA-MIN 2
Call	ERA-MIN Joint Call 2017

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University College Cork / Environmental Research Institute	Coordinator	Ireland
2	Composite Recycling Ltd	Partner	Ireland
3	Coolrec BV	Partner	Belgium
4	Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg	Partner	Germany
5	Alumisel	Partner	Spain
6	Muldenhütten Recycling und Umwelttechnik GmbH	Partner	Germany