Physical methods for processing electronic and electrical equipment waste (WEEE) for nonferrous metals recovery

This paper aims to recover precious metals, especially gold, from the WEEE (microprocessors). The first stage of the flow sheet of precious metals recovery consisted of sorting and grinding microprocessorsembedded in plastics and ceramics materials. Grinding was performed in twotzpes of mills, microprocessors that were embedded in plastic were ground in a Retsch SM2000 knife mill and those embedded in ceramic in a Retsch 10 rotating disc mill. Volumetric and magnetic separation of the concentrates represents the second phase of theproposed flow sheet. Following these operations six samples resulted, of different sizes and magnetic properties. The distribution of Au and Ag in all fractions resulted from the proposed separation technology has been ascertained by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.