Handling trace elements in WEEE recycling through copper smelting-an experimental and thermodynamic study

Recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is attracting increasing attention, due to the presence of valuable metals and the risk of environmental emissions associated with WEEE disposal. In this study, the distributions of trace elements (Ag, Ni, Co, and Sn) between copper alloy and magnetite/wüstite-saturated iron silicate slags were investigated at 1200–1300 °C and PO2 of 10-10-10-6.5 atm, simulating the conditions of WEEE...