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Br concentration range

Pilot Study Bromine containing Polymers at SIMS Recycling Auckland, New Zealand A study carried out for the Ministry for the Environment Drs. Ben Keet Geo & Hydro – K8 Ltd e-mail: ben@benkeet.com. Br concentration range. Sample type max concentrations found Average PCB concentration

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Br concentration range

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  1. Pilot Study Bromine containing Polymers at SIMS Recycling Auckland, New ZealandA study carried out for the Ministry for the EnvironmentDrs. Ben KeetGeo & Hydro – K8 Ltde-mail: ben@benkeet.com

  2. Br concentration range Sample type max concentrations found Average PCB concentration low concentrations found WEEE/RoH EU limit of Br high calibration (Br) low calibration (Br) Limit Of Detection of XRF % Bromine Note: Log Scale

  3. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory

  4. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory

  5. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory

  6. Calibrate the XRF instrument using polymer standards

  7. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice

  8. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice

  9. Br in WEEE study Break down into components 

  10. Next: Demonstration: XRF analysis Followed by: Site Tour Think: Safety Watch out for: Forklift trucks

  11. Key findings Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) usually contain high levels of BFR (bromine over 100,000 mg/kg)

  12. Key findings (continued) • Generally fans all contain BFR’s • (bromine over 50,000 mg/kg)

  13. Key findings (continued) • 50% of the laser printer toner cartridges have bromine over 50,000 mg/kg (75,000 – 180,000 mg/kg)

  14. Key findings (continued) • Some items look alike but have very different BFR concentrations

  15. Key findings (continued) • Often the plastic panels on one instrument seem to contain BFR’s at random. • Example: Ricoh photocopier • 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 % • 50% of panels Br < 0.035 %

  16. Key findings (continued) • 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 %  • 50% of panels Br < 0.035 %  ↓

  17. Key findings (continued) Articles with a RoHS sticker still contain BFR components example item 3 IBM desktop computer made in China 2006, contains 2 fans both with over 80,000 mg/kg bromine concentration (8 %)

  18. Key findings (continued) • Many small items which would not normally get hot • Still have high Br levels • Example telecom phone wire splitters • Bromine up to 180,000 mg/kg (18 %)

  19. Key findings (continued) • Finally – to confuse you all • Not all articles close to heat sources contain BFR’s, • Example: hair dryer (item 33) • Br < 10 mg/kg (< 0.001 %

  20. Conclusions • Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were found at significant levels in New Zealand’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)  •  The BFRs ranged up to levels (>10%) far in excess of that permitted under the EU RoH (0.1%) in components of the majority of articles investigated •  Follow up analytical determinations would be needed to confirm BDEs as a principal component of the BFRs detected •  In order to meet the expectations of the COP-5 recommendation of Stockholm Convention on BDEs, these findings indicate that New Zealand may need to consider feasible options for the environmentally sound management of WEEE •  The handheld XRF analyser is a simple and effective instrument to identify Bromine in WEEE

  21. Thank you for your attention Questions - Discussion

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