Handling trace elements in WEEE recycling through copper smelting-an experimental and thermodynamic study

Recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is attracting increasing attention, due to the presence valuable metals risk environmental emissions associated with WEEE disposal. In this study, distributions trace elements (Ag, Ni, Co, Sn) between copper alloy magnetite/wüstite-saturated iron silicate slags were investigated at 1200–1300 °C PO2 10-10-10-6.5 atm, simulating conditions reprocessing through secondary smelting converting. The high-temperature isothermal equilibration experiments conducted in synthesized magnetite/wüstite crucibles under controlled CO-CO2 atmospheres followed by quenching an ice-water mixture. phase compositions concentrations alloy, magnetite/wüstite, slag determined Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis Laser Ablation-High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. distribution coefficients all increased decreasing oxygen partial pressure temperature. Ag distributed strongly into conditions, whereas Co mainly deported phase. Ni Sn concentrated lower higher PO2. Varying also dissolved solid