Understanding Material Chemistry of Mobile Handset for Recycling Feasibility Analysis

Abstract

Mobile phones and the smartness associated with them can be attributed to as the single most important factor for such transformation. With volume of mobile handsets sold seeing an increasing trend, emphasis on recycling and waste policy has increased by multifold. Schematic of metal components constituting production of a typical handset and each of the segmented parts has been showcased along with data of waste generation from various states of India. This paper discusses the economic viability of metal extraction considering factors such as metal process time, relative effort and general requirement which identifies high extraction efficiency of metal. Comparison chart has been tabulated for each of the metals with regard to expenditure, revenue generated, processing methods and processing difficulty. The results obtained provide satisfactory evidence to further improve the process to enhance the metal, calculation comparison chart represent each metal expenditure and revenue of Gold and Platinum takes more time for process i.e Au = 24hr, Pt =24hr, Zinc Copper and Aluminum takes minimum time for process Zn=1hr Cu=1hr Al=2hr. Extraction of gold and platinum process are complex compare to other metal highest expenditure cost of metal Au = 1653Rs, Minimum expenditure cost of metal Al = 620Rs Zn =620Rs, Highest revenue from Aluminum = 9000Rs. Minimum Revenue from Silver =1720Rs, Identified high extraction efficiency metals – Cu =99.95%, Al= 99%, Ag =99%. Identified maximum level of purity accepted metals Pt = 99% Au = 99%.