A comparative review on recovery of heavy metals from printed circuit boards (PCB'S) by chemical and bio-leaching

The electronics industry is the world's largest and fastest growing industry. This consumer-centric industry's combination of technology advancements and quick product obsolescence creates new environmental issues. There is an urgent need to address the volume and toxicity of electronic waste generated. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a significant component of electronic trash, containing mostly heavy metals such as copper (Cu), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb). Metal recovery and recycling from PCBs is an important step in pollution prevention. Researchers have devised many methods for recovering precious metals from PCBs, including gravity separation, magnetic separation, and electrostatic separation, as well as PCB separation using the organic solvent technique, leaching method, bioleaching method, or a combination of these methods. This research provides a brief summary of India's present e-waste status, environmental and health risks, continuing waste disposal and recycling activities, and emphasizes the recovery of heavy metals from PCBs by systematic leaching/bioleaching.