WEEE axis

Excerpt

The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of potential deposits of critical metals from waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE), and to develop processes to maximize their recovery in order to create value in France. Our focus is on developing breakthrough dismantling, physical sorting and chemical treatment techniques that simplify mixtures and increase the proportions of each metal in the products generated. The aim is to reduce processing costs and the environmental impact of these processes. This must be complemented by the identification of recovery channels. In addition to understanding known or established circuits, the challenge is to identify possible links between channels and/or processes, enabling economically viable and ecologically sustainable channels to be relocated in France. Finally, the work carried out as part of this project will enable us to better understand and/or resolve known challenges, as well as identify unknown ones.

Keywords: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), Flows, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Strategic metals, Inorganic metallurgy, Cost-benefit assessment, Environmental impacts, Strategy, Industrial processes

Tasks

Our researches

Analysis and knowledge of the urban mine deposit
Muriel Maillefert (Université Lyon 3, EVS)
Solène Touzé (BRGM)

This first task is divided into two sub-tasks. The first (1.1.) focuses on understanding the territory’s metabolism in relation to WEEE. The second sub-task (1.2.) focuses on the challenges of determining the composition of the urban mine that is WEEE, the difficulty being that it is highly variable. One of the obstacles to be overcome is the standardization of analysis protocols, a standard that does not currently exist.

WEEE treatment process
Jean-Christophe Gabriel (CEA, NIMBE, LICSEN)
N. Menad (BRGM)
CHAPUIS Marlène et Emmanuel BILLY (CEA-LITEN)

Study of processes for dismantling and disassembling systems into their individual electronic components and intelligent sorting, leading to sorting bags with simplified and more reproducible elementary compositions. This process will ultimately simplify the downstream treatment processes in the recycling chain for separating elements, and enable critical metals to be recovered in an economically viable way.

2.2. Development of innovative, economically viable and environmentally-friendly separation technologies, such as electrostatic separation and flotation, to concentrate the critical metals in the flows to be treated and enable them to be recovered, whereas today they are mainly buried and not recycled.

2.3 Studying the fundamental parameters governing the chemical extraction and recovery of these metals, with more or less advanced control of their separation, to ultimately put in place an inorganic metallurgy technology brick that can be integrated into the general WEEE recycling process.

Implications of WEEE recycling strategies for access to resources and environmental impacts
Stéphanie Muller (BRGM)

The final task will examine the implications of these new WEEE recycling strategies in terms of resource accessibility and environmental impact. It will address the following challenges:

Quantifying resource accessibility within the framework of life cycle assessment (LCA);

Assessing the environmental benefits of circular loops, including recycling strategies, as part of LCA.

Excerpt

The RESURGENCE project aims to transform the way electronic equipment is designed, used, and recycled in order to reduce its environmental impact. Every year, millions of phones, computers, and household appliances become waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which is often difficult to recycle due to its complexity and the mix of materials it contains.

RESURGENCE proposes integrating circularity into product design from the outset to facilitate disassembly, repair, and reuse. The project brings together experts in materials science, chemistry, electronics, artificial intelligence, and industrial design to develop innovative solutions:

• new eco-designed materials, such as self-immolating polymers and reversible adhesives;

• diagnostic tools to quickly assess the health of components and estimate their remaining useful life (RUL);

• design methods to guide manufacturers towards products that are easier to recycle.

The RESURGENCE project aims to reduce electronic waste production, extend the life of components, and promote sustainable innovation. In this way, it contributes to building a more responsible and circular electronics sector.

Keywords: Eco-design, recyclability, circular economy, innovative materials, diagnostics and residual useful life (RUL), self-immolating polymers, electronic card recycling, additive manufacturing, creativity tools for design, sustainable innovation.

Tasks

Our researches

Development of a prospective tool to foster the strong circularity of electronic systems
José-Armando Hidalgo Crespo jose-armando.hidalgo_crespo@ensam.eu

Design and implement a decision-making tool that enables stakeholders to anticipate and integrate robust circularity principles from the earliest stages of design, production, use, and end-of-life management of electronic systems. This tool will facilitate scenario planning, assess environmental impacts, and guide the choice of sustainable design strategies from the outset of the development process.

Ecodesigned Materials
Vincent Semetey vincent.semetey@chimieparistech.psl.eu

Identify, develop, and characterize environmentally friendly materials with low environmental impact that are suitable for electronic systems. This includes recyclable, bio-based, non-toxic materials designed to minimize resource consumption while maintaining or improving the functional performance of electronic components.

Ecodesigned Systems Manufacturing
Tan-Phu Vuong tan-phu.vuong@grenoble-inp.fr

Develop and implement innovative manufacturing processes that support the eco-design of electronic systems. This includes optimizing energy and resource efficiency, minimizing waste generation, and ensuring compatibility with circular strategies such as reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling.

Development of circular strategies – Reuse and Recycle
Sebastien Boisseau sebastien.boisseau@cea.fr

This task aims to promote reuse and recycling approaches by developing (i) advanced diagnostic tools, including test benches and predictive algorithms, to assess the health status and remaining useful life (RUL) of electronic components as part of the reuse approach, and (ii) strategies for recovering components from eco-designed electronics, in particular through leaching, as part of the recycling approach.