The method devised by NTU researchers makes it possible to dissolve and remove brominated flame retardants from keyboard casings, laptops and tablets, and recover up to 80% of the plastics used in these items.

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, led by Associate Professor Lee Jong-Min from the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, have devised a way to make recycling plastics from e-waste safer.

Using a mixture of 1-propanol and heptane, they dissolved and removed brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a type of plastic commonly used in keyboard and laptop casings.

With this technique, plastics from e-waste, one of the most traditionally difficult plastics to recycle, can be reused.

Why is it difficult to recycle electronic plastics?

Plastics in e-waste pose significant environmental challenges because they often release toxic chemical additives if not disposed of properly.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) make plastics used in electronics fireproof and safe. When disposed of incorrectly, however, these compounds can leach from plastics into the environment when plastics are disposed of in e-waste.

Heating plastic during recycling also releases toxic compounds, which is why they are often some of the most challenging materials to recycle.

A new recycling technique

The method designed by the NTU researchers not only allows the BFRs to be dissolved and removed from keyboard casings, laptops and tablets. The solvents dissolved only the BFRs, allowing the researchers to recover more than 80% of the plastic after removing the BFRs. The plastic’s properties were also unchanged, the report explains.

Now, the researchers hope their method will facilitate the recovery of clean plastic and increase recycling of electronic plastic waste on a large scale.