Background

With the continuous acceleration of digital product updates and iterations, discarded electronic devices are rapidly increasing. Electronic waste such as computers, printers, and waste circuit boards contains high-value precious metals, but improper disposal can become environmental “killers”. Simple landfilling or incineration can result in the loss of resources, as well as soil and air pollution, posing a threat to ecology and health. In this context, the scientific treatment of electronic waste is urgently needed. This article focuses on the process of electronic waste crushing and sorting, detailing how “waste appliances” can turn waste into treasure through this process.

Core of electronic waste treatment: crushing and sorting process

1、Conveying and crushing – Double shaft shredder “disassembles” large pieces of garbage

The first step in electronic waste disposal is transportation and crushing. Scattered waste equipment such as computers, mobile phones, printers, etc. need to be sent to the processing line in a centralized manner.

These waste equipment are gradually fed into the double shaft shredder through conveyor belts. It can accurately cut and split large electronic devices with high-strength cutting tools and strong rotational force, such as disassembling a computer host into small shells and circuit board fragments, and breaking down a mobile phone into a metal frame, plastic shell, and battery residue.

2、 Precise sorting – iron remover+eddy current sorting machine “division of labor to pick up leaks”
The crushed electronic waste mixture (including plastic, iron metal, non-ferrous metal, circuit board fragments, etc.) needs to be separated into materials through a “sorting device”, with key equipment including iron separators and eddy current separators:

Iron remover: Using the principle of magnetic field adsorption, iron like metals (such as iron sheets and screws on equipment casings) are separated from the mixture. These iron metals are collected separately and can be recycled for further refining;

Eddy current sorting machine: for non-ferrous metals (such as copper, aluminum, and metal sheets attached to precious metals), eddy currents are generated through high-frequency magnetic fields to generate repulsive forces on non-ferrous metals, thereby separating them from plastics and impurities. This step can accurately screen out high-value non-ferrous metals, paving the way for subsequent extraction of precious metals.

3、Classification and Collection – Resources’ Each in Its Place ‘
After crushing and sorting, electronic waste will eventually be divided into several categories and transported to different areas:

Plastic materials: such as equipment casings and data cable skins, can be cleaned and granulated before being reused in plastic product production;

Metals: divided into ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, etc.). The former can be recycled for steelmaking, while the latter can be further purified and even extracted for precious metals such as gold and palladium;

Harmful residues, such as solder in circuit boards and discarded batteries (which need to be treated separately), will be collected centrally and disposed of harmlessly through professional processes to avoid the leakage of harmful substances.

Recycling advantages

The advantages of standardized recycling of electronic waste are significant: in terms of environmental protection, it can significantly reduce landfill volume, lower incineration pollution, effectively intercept harmful substances such as lead and mercury that harm soil, water sources, and air, and fully protect the ecological environment; In terms of resource utilization, as an “urban mineral”, it can replace the extraction of primary minerals. Taking copper recycling as an example, it can save over 90% of energy compared to mining copper, achieving efficient resource recycling; From the perspective of industrial development, it has spawned a complete industrial chain covering recycling, dismantling, and reuse, created numerous job opportunities, and provided low-cost recycled raw materials for the electronics manufacturing industry, reducing costs, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting green economic development.