NTU Scientists Find Safe Method to Recycle E-Waste Plastic

Published on:
by KnowESG
KnowESG_NTU Scientists Find Safe Method to Recycle E-waste Plastic
NTU scientists claim that recycling e-waste plastic can be greener with their new method.
  • The scientists at NTU University developed ways to recycle e-waste plastic and reuse it again without compromising the quality.

  • This method helps in the recovery of clean plastic and increases the recycling of e-waste plastic.

A group of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, has discovered a safe method to recycle e-waste plastic.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the primary sources of plastic waste, and such plastic can be highly toxic if not properly disposed of. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are contaminants added to plastic to make it fire-resistant. When e-waste plastics are thrown away or recycled, these chemicals can leak into the environment, causing pollution.

READ MORE: Teesside Uni Creates Material to Capture 3.5–5m Tonnes of CO2 in UK

To tackle this problem, the team of NTU scientists, led by Assoc. Prof. Lee Jong-Min, has developed a new method to make recycling e-waste plastics safer. They focused on a common plastic used in electronic items, such as keyboards and laptop casings, called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

Their method consists of two solvents: 1-propanol and heptane. These solvents help dissolve and remove the harmful BFRs carefully and selectively from the plastic without affecting itself. Once the toxic chemicals are removed, this plastic can be reused in its original form.

According to the scientists, their method can recover over 80% of the plastic and reuse it. The quality of it remains the same, meaning it can still be used in new products. This is one of the efficient ways to recycle e-waste plastic without harming the environment.

To learn more about the study, click here.

Follow KnowESG's Technology News for regular news and views.

Discover an extensive network of ESG providers here

Check out KnowESG's latest ESG Event updates

Source: NTU

Share:
esg
esg
esg
esg

Tech Headlines

Active Impact Investments Raises $110M to Back Climate Tech Startups

Active Impact Investments Raises $110M to Back Climate Tech Startups

 European Capital Markets Pivot: Euronext’s ESG Rebrand Targets Defence and Infrastructure

European Capital Markets Pivot: Euronext’s ESG Rebrand Targets Defence and Infrastructure

From Waste to Resource: Dow and Google Use AI to Recycle the Unrecyclable

UK Firm Turns Captured CO2 into Materials for Roads, Buildings

Mobile CO₂ Capture Tech to Decarbonise Diesel Freight Trains

Coding for the Climate: Green Software Development That Cuts Waste and Carbon

MVGX and BDO Launch AI Tool to Cut ESG Reporting Time in Half

Adaptavate Raises £2.7m to Expand Low-Carbon Building Tech

Manchester Pilot Converts Wastewater Biogas into Clean Hydrogen

New Travel Decarbonisation Tech Emerges from UK Universities