"Recovering precious metals from circuit boards: what your company can gain"

Introduction to the recovery of precious metals in circuit boards

The recovery of precious metals present in circuit boards represents a strategic opportunity for organizations concerned with sustainability and economic efficiency. Metals such as gold, silver and palladium are widely used in electronic components due to their conductivity and resistance to corrosion, making their reuse essential.

Main precious metals available in circuit boards

Printed circuit boards contain significant quantities of precious metals, including gold (Au), silver (Ag), palladium (Pd) and even platinum (Pt). Gold is generally used in contacts and connections, while silver appears in tracks and circuits. These metals can be recovered through chemical and physical processes, optimizing their use.

Regulations and applicable legislation

The proper handling of electronic waste and the recovery of its components are regulated by the National Solid Waste Policy (Law No. 12.305/2010), as available at Planalto.gov.br. In addition, the National Solid Waste Management Information System (SINIR) offers guidelines for efficient management, emphasizing the importance of the correct disposal and reuse of materials sinir.gov.br.

Economic benefits of recovering precious metals

The reuse of metals extracted from circuit boards contributes considerably to reducing costs related to the purchase of raw materials. It also generates extra income from the sale of recovered materials, positively impacting the financial balance sheet and reducing dependence on the volatile precious metals market.

Environmental aspects and sustainability

Avoiding the improper disposal of circuit boards avoids environmental contamination with chemicals and heavy metals. The recovery process reduces primary mineral extraction, minimizing associated environmental impacts such as soil degradation and water pollution, in line with the principles of the circular economy and socio-environmental responsibility.

Recovery technology processes

Recovery technologies involve steps such as dismantling, crushing, physical separation and hydrometallurgical processes such as acid leaching or controlled cyanidation, followed by metal precipitation. The choice of method depends on the volume, composition and cost-benefit, and it is essential to ensure safety and compliance with environmental regulations during the operation.

Safety in the disposal and handling of electronic material

The safe disposal of digital media with sensitive content is essential. There are specialized services for sanitizing hard drives and other devices, guaranteeing protection against data leakage, such as the scheduling available at hard drive sanitization.

Collection and proper disposal of electronic equipment

The correct reverse logistics and collection of electronic waste is essential to avoid irregular disposal. To schedule the removal of obsolete or unused electronic equipment, interested parties can turn to specialized services that follow current regulations, as detailed in electronic waste collection.

Conclusion

The recovery of precious metals in circuit boards offers significant economic gains and environmental benefits, in line with current regulations. Adopting these processes contributes to more sustainable, safe and efficient business models.