The Use of Deep Eutectic Solvents Ionic Liquids for Selective Dissolution and Recovery of Sn, Pb and Zn from Electric and Electronic Waste (WEEE)

The recovery of metals from a multi-component alloy obtained by crushing, melting and anodic dissolution of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been investigated. The aim of this paper is to selective recover of Sn, Pb and Zn by a novel ecological technology using ionic liquids. Metallic Sn, Pn and Zn were electrochemically recovered from the WEEE dissolved in choline chloride-ethylene glycol-iodine ionic liquid. Cyclic voltammetry was used in order to determine the deposition potentials of the studied metals. XRD and SEM/EDX analysis methods were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the metallic deposits. Evolution of the cathodic deposition and of the chemical composition of the anode during the anodic dissolution process for Sn, Pb and Zn was also studied. This study has demonstrated the possibility of selective recovery of Sn, Pb and Zn from the multi-component alloy (which resulted from consecutive anodic dissolution of WEEE) by anodic dissolution/deposition in ionic liquids.