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www.benkeet.com ©2011 Ben Keet 1
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: [email protected]
Br concentration range
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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 Note: Log Scale
%
Brom
ine
X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory
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X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory
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X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory
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Calibrate the XRF instrument using polymer standards
X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice
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X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice
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Br in WEEE study
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Break down into components
Next:
Demonstration: XRF analysis
Followed by: Site Tour
Think: SafetyWatch out for: Forklift trucks
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Key findings
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Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) usually contain high levels of BFR (bromine over 100,000 mg/kg)
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Key findings (continued)
Generally fans all contain BFR’s (bromine over 50,000 mg/kg)
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Key findings (continued)
50% of the laser printer toner cartridges have bromine over 50,000 mg/kg (75,000 – 180,000 mg/kg)
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Key findings (continued)
Some items look alike but have very different BFR concentrations
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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 %
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Key findings (continued)
50% of panels Br 10 – 20 %
50% of panels Br < 0.035 % ↓
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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 %)
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Many small items which would not normally get hotStill have high Br levels
Example telecom phone wire splitters
Bromine up to 180,000 mg/kg (18 %)
Key findings (continued)
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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 %
Key findings (continued)
Conclusions
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• 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
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Thank you for your attention
Questions - Discussion
