GREEN ELECTRONICSGREEN ELECTRONICS

Prepared By - Prepared By -

TARANDEEP SINGHTARANDEEP SINGH

GREEN ELECTRONICSGREEN ELECTRONICS

BASIC AIMBASIC AIM

Green Electronics focuses on elimination of Green Electronics focuses on elimination of harmful chemicals, elements and harmful chemicals, elements and

components, and recycling of electronic components, and recycling of electronic products at the end of life.products at the end of life.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Electronics has made life easier for us.Electronics has made life easier for us. Certain materials in the electronic goods and products are toxic Certain materials in the electronic goods and products are toxic and harmful to the nature and the humans especially.and harmful to the nature and the humans especially. Green Electronics focuses on the elimination of these harmful Green Electronics focuses on the elimination of these harmful and toxic chemicals and elements from the products, and and toxic chemicals and elements from the products, and recycling the electronic items at the end of their life.recycling the electronic items at the end of their life. Among the harmful chemicals are – Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Among the harmful chemicals are – Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers(PBDE).Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers(PBDE). Many Parliaments of the the different Countries has passed the Many Parliaments of the the different Countries has passed the legislation to restrict the use of Lead and other harmful matierials legislation to restrict the use of Lead and other harmful matierials for the manufacture of electronic products.for the manufacture of electronic products.

SUBSTITUTE FOR LEADSUBSTITUTE FOR LEAD?????? 90% of all Electronic goods and products are made up of 90% of all Electronic goods and products are made up of LEADLEAD.. Efforts are being made to find Efforts are being made to find feasiblefeasible and and cost-effective wayscost-effective ways for producing for producing

lead-free products.lead-free products. Many of these electronic components are Many of these electronic components are highly toxichighly toxic.. Toxic materials and emissions contaminate the air and water resources.Toxic materials and emissions contaminate the air and water resources. Semiconductors are the basis of all the electronic components and lead is the glue Semiconductors are the basis of all the electronic components and lead is the glue

that binds all the semiconductor devices to make them work efficientlythat binds all the semiconductor devices to make them work efficiently Lead alloy solders help to transfer data from your computer.Lead alloy solders help to transfer data from your computer. Earlier, lead was even used in paints, ceramic glazes and plumbing solders. But Earlier, lead was even used in paints, ceramic glazes and plumbing solders. But

now its been discarded due to its now its been discarded due to its poisoning effectspoisoning effects.. FACT:FACT: One Billion pounds of lead are contained in obsolete computers in the US One Billion pounds of lead are contained in obsolete computers in the US

alone.alone. IMPORTANT CONCLUSION:IMPORTANT CONCLUSION: This means we have to recycle computers as This means we have to recycle computers as

fast as we make them and too efficiently. fast as we make them and too efficiently.

So at the end of this session it can be inferred that tough Lead is an important So at the end of this session it can be inferred that tough Lead is an important element for the electronic industry, but its replacement is quite difficult and a element for the electronic industry, but its replacement is quite difficult and a tedious task for the researchers and engineers. tedious task for the researchers and engineers.

Why LEAD is used in Electronic Why LEAD is used in Electronic Components???Components???

Points as to why LEAD is used in Electronic Components and Device:Points as to why LEAD is used in Electronic Components and Device: To Meet To Meet Performance RequirementPerformance Requirement in a cost-efficient manner. in a cost-efficient manner. Lead can be easily Lead can be easily Remoulded Remoulded and and RefinedRefined.. Lead has Lead has Highest Recycling RateHighest Recycling Rate of all the industrial metals in the world. of all the industrial metals in the world. Natural Properties:Natural Properties:

1. Low Melting Point1. Low Melting Point2. High Strength2. High Strength3. Ductility3. Ductility4. Fatigue Resistance4. Fatigue Resistance5. High Thermal Cycling5. High Thermal Cycling6. Joint Integrity6. Joint Integrity7. Corrosion Resistant7. Corrosion Resistant8. Malleability8. Malleability9. Long Life9. Long Life

Lead is essential to the production of many highly technical products, from Lead is essential to the production of many highly technical products, from foetal monitors to fibre optics. It plays a vital role in space exploration, foetal monitors to fibre optics. It plays a vital role in space exploration, energy conservation and telecommunications.energy conservation and telecommunications.

E-Toxic Components in ComputersE-Toxic Components in Computers

The e-toxic components in computers include:The e-toxic components in computers include:1.1. Computer circuit boards containing heavy metals like lead and Computer circuit boards containing heavy metals like lead and

cadmium.cadmium.2.2. Computer batteries containing cadmium.Computer batteries containing cadmium.3.3. Cathode ray tubes with lead oxide and barium.Cathode ray tubes with lead oxide and barium.4.4. Brominated flame-retardants used on PCBs, cables and plastic casing.Brominated flame-retardants used on PCBs, cables and plastic casing.5.5. Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) coated copper cables and plastic computer Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) coated copper cables and plastic computer

casings that release highly toxic dioxins and furans when burnt to casings that release highly toxic dioxins and furans when burnt to recover valuable metals.recover valuable metals.

6.6. Mercury switches.Mercury switches.7.7. Mercury in flat screens.Mercury in flat screens.8.8. Polychlorinated biphenyls present in older capacitors and transformers.Polychlorinated biphenyls present in older capacitors and transformers.

Disposal of E-Waste Disposal of E-Waste

E-waste can be disposed in three ways:E-waste can be disposed in three ways:

1.1. IncinerationIncineration

2.2. LandfillingLandfilling

3.3. RecyclingRecycling

INCINERATIONINCINERATION Incineration basically entails to destroying the e-waste Incineration basically entails to destroying the e-waste

including computers and other electronic devices and including computers and other electronic devices and components by burning.components by burning.

Incineration is particularly dangerous because of the variety of Incineration is particularly dangerous because of the variety of different substances found together in electro scrap.different substances found together in electro scrap.

The burning of these components results into high The burning of these components results into high concentrations of metals, including heavy metals, in the slag, concentrations of metals, including heavy metals, in the slag, fly ash, flue gas and filter cake. fly ash, flue gas and filter cake.

90% of cadmium results into fly ash and 70% of mercury 90% of cadmium results into fly ash and 70% of mercury results into filter cake.results into filter cake.

Some of the electro scrap can also be sent to cement kilns for Some of the electro scrap can also be sent to cement kilns for use as an alternative to fuel.use as an alternative to fuel.

LANDFILLINGLANDFILLING Landfilling involves disposing the e-waste by burning it, especially as a Landfilling involves disposing the e-waste by burning it, especially as a

method of filling in and reclaiming excavated pits.method of filling in and reclaiming excavated pits. Major Disadvantage: Even the best ‘state-of-the-art’ landfills don’t remain Major Disadvantage: Even the best ‘state-of-the-art’ landfills don’t remain

completely tight throughout their lifetimes and a certain amount of completely tight throughout their lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and metal leaching does occur.chemical and metal leaching does occur.

Mercury leaches when certain electronic devices, such as circuit breakers, Mercury leaches when certain electronic devices, such as circuit breakers, are destroyed. The same is true for PCBs from condensers. are destroyed. The same is true for PCBs from condensers.

When brominated flame-retarded plastic or cadmium-containing plastics When brominated flame-retarded plastic or cadmium-containing plastics are landfilled, both PBDE and cadmium may leach into the soil and are landfilled, both PBDE and cadmium may leach into the soil and groundwater.groundwater.

Even significant amount of lead ions are dissolved from broken lead Even significant amount of lead ions are dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone glass of cathode ray tubes, when mixed containing glass, such as the cone glass of cathode ray tubes, when mixed with acid waters.with acid waters.

RECYCLINGRECYCLING Of the three discussed, Recycling is by far the best method.Of the three discussed, Recycling is by far the best method. It simply removes the hazards into secondary products that eventually have to be It simply removes the hazards into secondary products that eventually have to be

disposed of. Unless he goal is to redesign the product to use non-hazardous disposed of. Unless he goal is to redesign the product to use non-hazardous materials, such recycling is a false solution.materials, such recycling is a false solution.

Hazardous emissions to the air also result from the recycling of e-waste containing Hazardous emissions to the air also result from the recycling of e-waste containing heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium.

Another problem with heavy metals and halogenated substances in untreated waste Another problem with heavy metals and halogenated substances in untreated waste occurs during the shredding process. Since most waste is shredded without proper occurs during the shredding process. Since most waste is shredded without proper disassembly, hazardous substances, such as PCBs contained in capacitors into the disassembly, hazardous substances, such as PCBs contained in capacitors into the recovered metals and the shredder waste. recovered metals and the shredder waste.

Consequences of using Lead-Free SoldersConsequences of using Lead-Free Solders

Lead is said to have cause serious chronic damage.Lead is said to have cause serious chronic damage. From health point of view, it is a risk using lead in tin solders for human From health point of view, it is a risk using lead in tin solders for human

exposure.exposure. The humans are most prone to lead via the Environment.The humans are most prone to lead via the Environment.