Parametric Study on the Extraction of Iron from waste Printed Circuit Boards by Acid Leaching
Author : Gener, Alecxa Rose Delos Reyes
Major Adviser : Guerrero, Gino Apollo M.
Committee Members : Alcantara, Jerico Z.; Detras, Monet Concepcion M.
Year : 2019
Month : June
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract
Waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) constitute to the huge amount of electrical waste being generated. This study aims to extract iron and to determine the significant factors that could affect the percentage extraction of iron. Sulfuric acid was used to leach the metals. Runs were set at different factor settings. The factors considered were PCB loading, particle size, leaching temperature, leaching time, agitation speed for leaching, sulfuric acid concentration, pH for precipitation and agitation speed for precipitation. XRF analysis shows that the samples are composed of 6.21 % and 29.44 % iron for samples with 2mm and 1mm particle size respectively. Percent metal extraction was analyzed using results from atomic absorption spectroscopy. From the analysis, the %extraction ranged from 12.38 to 50.90 %. Sodium Hydroxide was also used to precipitate iron from the leachate. Very small amounts of iron were found on the supernatant which means that the iron was successfully precipitated. Factor screening was done using Plackett-Burman design. It was concluded that only the Sulfuric acid concentration and leaching temperature are statistically significant factors. Both of the significant factors have a positive effect on the response which is the % iron extraction. Optimization of the significant factors is recommended in order to maximize the metal extraction.
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