Title: A review of electronic waste management microbial participation: a green technology

Authors: Deepak Pant

Addresses: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Waste Management Laboratory, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh – 176215, India

Abstract: E-waste now has been a rapidly growing problem in terms of quantity and toxicity of its components. Recycling of e-waste becomes rather complicated because of the technological advancement in the materials and composition of the e-equipment. From the management perspective e-waste components can be divided in two categories: 1) organic part contains thermo and thermosetting plastic; 2) inorganic parts consists of metallic and non-metallic components. The current review addresses the various environmental issues related to existing management and proposes microbial participation as a viable and eco-friendly technique. Microbial participation improves the process in a greener way and this technology can be applied for the treatment of both organic as well as inorganic part of the e-waste. It affects organic part principally by its dehalogenation and inorganic part by metal extraction pattern.

Keywords: e-waste management; microbial participation; bioleaching; green technology; electronic waste management; electronic components; dehalogenation; metal extraction pattern; organic materials; thermoplastics; thermosetting plastics; inorganic materials; metallic components; non-metallic components; recycling; environmental technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2014.058791

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2014 Vol.13 No.1, pp.23 - 36

Accepted: 03 Jun 2012
Published online: 13 May 2014 *

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