Analytical Sciences

Composition and Elution Behavior of Various Elements from Printed Circuit Boards, Cathode-ray Tube Glass, and Liquid-crystal Displays in Waste Consumer Electronics

Kazuho INABA,* Tomoyoshi MURATA,** Shigeki YAMAMURA,** Masaaki NAGANO,*** Kazuhiro IWASAKI,** Daisuke NAKAJIMA,** and Hidetaka TAKIGAMI**

*Department of Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
**National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
***National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan

The contents and elution behavior of metals in consumer electronics parts were determined so as to understand their maximum environmental risk. Elements contained most in printed-circuit boards were Cu, Si, Br, Ca, Al, Sn, Pb, Sb, Ba, Fe, Ni, Ti, and Zn; in cathode-ray tube glass were Si, Pb, Ba, Sr, Zn, Zr, Ca, and Sb; in arsenic contained liquid-crystal displays were Si, Ca, Sr, Ba, As, and Fe; and in antimony contained liquid-crystal displays were Si, Ba, Ca, Sb, Sr, Fe, and Sn. The elements eluted most from printed-circuit boards were Zn, Pb, and Cu; from cathode-ray tube glass were Pb, Zn, B, Ba, and Si; and from liquid-crystal displays were B and Si, and the toxic As and Sb. The amount eluted was greatest at acidic pH. It was revealed that officially recommended 6-h-shaking with a pure water test was insufficient to understand the real environmental risk of waste electronics.

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