Illinois Researchers Develop Method for Recycling Plastic from E-waste

A group of researchers at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center has developed a method for recycling the plastic found in e-waste.

Using a non-toxic solvent called N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, the researchers are able to recover clean streams of polycarbonate (PC) from the polycarbonate plastic found in e-waste. The solvent doesn’t need to be heated as much as other solvents, so it can dissolve polymers without allowing the solvent to vaporize and enter the atmosphere.

Now that the method has been developed, the researchers are moving on to the next phase of the process, which will involve getting the recycled polymers through a practical manufacturing process to test their durability as a viable product.

The Daily Illini has more:

University researchers based at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center have developed a method for sustainable recycling of the plastic found in electronic products.

The research is led by Sriram Chandrasekaran, assistant professor in Engineering, and B.K. Sharma, senior research engineer. The team found a non-toxic solvent that can recover clean streams of polycarbonate, or PC, from the polycarbonate plastic.

A key aspect of the research is that it will provide a nontoxic solution for recycling e-material, Chandrasekaran said.

Read the full story here.