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Recent Studies on Ionic Liquids in Metal Recovery from E-Waste and Secondary Sources by Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Electrodeposition: a Review

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Abstract

Given the high growth of e-waste around the world and the environmental and health risks associated with it, research on optimal and green methods of e-waste recycling is of great importance in order to find solutions to this global crisis. In particular are techniques that are economically attractive in addition to solving problems. In this paper, our research team has collected some recent methods of metal recycling in which ionic liquids (ILs) play a main member in the extraction process. The advantages of ILs include high selectivity, short operating temperature, lower relative toxicity, multiple use, and minimal waste generation. The results of this research are also compared with the results of previous studies. We have done special research on ILs used in leaching processes and applied in liquid-liquid extraction, and electrodeposition of metal in IL. Also listed in this paper are some experimental processes that can be tested in e-waste and secondary sources recycling. Some of which can be used on an industrial scale.

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Abbreviations

A/O:

Ratio of aqueous phase to organic phase

β :

Separation factor

C or [C]:

Concentration

CAGR:

Compound annual growth rate

CE:

Counter electrode

D :

Distribution ratio

E :

Extraction efficiency

EEE:

Electrical and electronic equipment

FIL:

Functionalized ionic liquid

IL:

Ionic liquid

LLE:

Liquid-liquid extraction

M:

Metal

RE:

Reference electrode

RT:

Room temperature

S :

Selectivity

T :

Temperature

t :

Time

TSIL:

Task-specific ionic liquid

V :

Volume

WE:

Working electrode

WEEE:

Waste electrical and electronic equipment

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the Research Affairs Division Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), Tehran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, No. 424, Hafez Avenue, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran

    Raouf AliAkbari, Yousef Marfavi & Elaheh Kowsari

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore

    Seeram Ramakrishna

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  1. Raouf AliAkbari
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  2. Yousef Marfavi
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  4. Seeram Ramakrishna
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Correspondence to Elaheh Kowsari or Seeram Ramakrishna.

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AliAkbari, R., Marfavi, Y., Kowsari, E. et al. Recent Studies on Ionic Liquids in Metal Recovery from E-Waste and Secondary Sources by Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Electrodeposition: a Review. Mater Circ Econ 2, 10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-020-00010-2

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