Development of a versatile analytical protocol for the comprehensive determination of the elemental composition of smartphone compartments on the example of printed circuit boards
- Author(s)
- B. Bookhagen, W. Obermaier, C. Opper, C. Koeberl, T. Hofmann, T. Prohaska, J. Irrgeher
- Abstract
A versatile approach to determining the elemental content of more than 50 elements in different
components of electronic devices on the example of smartphones was developed. The analytical
protocol is based on accurate disassembly of smartphones, a single processing microwave-assisted acid
digestion followed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS measurements. Method optimization and validation were
performed using the certified reference material ERM®-EZ505 electronic scrap. Combined uncertainties
revealed measurement uncertainty and sample heterogeneity as main contributors. The contents of up
to 57 elements could be quantified in the certified reference material ERM®-EZ505 electronic scrap. The
results of the certified elements Au, Be, Cu, In, Ni, Pd, and Pt overlapped within their uncertainties with
the certified range and revealed recoveries of 100% 16%. Only Ag shows incomplete recoveries (75%
35%). The validated method was applied to all metal-containing components of selected smartphones,
excluding batteries. The contents of up to 57 elements could be quantified and are presented
exemplarily for printed circuit boards, which represent the most complex components in the
investigated smartphones and thus limit the capability of the method. The ten most abundant elements
in decreasing order are Cu, Fe, Si, Ni, Sn, Zn, Ba, Al, Cr, Ti, which comprise approx. 80% of the weight of
the printed circuit boards. The method allows for the determination of metal content in various parts of
modern smartphones, providing the basis for the estimation and prediction of future metal usage and
thus the comprehensive investigation of recycling and circular economy aspects.- Organisation(s)
- Department of Lithospheric Research
- External organisation(s)
- Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM), Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung
- Journal
- Analytical Methods
- Volume
- 10
- Pages
- 3864-3871
- No. of pages
- 8
- ISSN
- 1759-9660
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ay01192c
- Publication date
- 07-2018
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105105 Geochemistry, 104023 Environmental chemistry, 105906 Environmental geosciences
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, General Chemical Engineering
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/90f4ad8e-0192-4cf0-8175-0cf41155d6be