Industrial-Scale Indium Recovery from Various e-Waste Resources Through Simulation and Integration of Developed Processes

Various e-wastes like waste LCD, LED, and LCD etching industry wastewater are important secondary resources for indium, which is a critical metal. In this research, the industrial-scale indium recovery from e-waste resources like waste LCD, LED, and LCD industry etching wastewater is being emphasized through simulation and integration of the developed processes. A demonstration plant for indium recovery on one ton/day of ITO etching wastewater has been developed with almost complete (99%) recovery of indium. For the indium recovery, integration of the processes can be managed by following two approaches unique to this system, (i) utilization of ITO etching industry wastewaters for the leaching of waste LCD, (ii) integration of leaching processes developed for waste LCD and LED with that of the treatment process for ITO wastewaters. Through the proposed approach, the semiconductor manufacturing industry and ITO industry can address various pressing issues like (i) waste disposal, (ii) indium recovery, (iii) circular economy.

Automated summary

In this study, industrial-scale indium recovery from various e-waste resources like waste LCD, LED, and LCD industry etching wastewater has been achieved through the development and integration of processes. A demonstration plant has been established for indium recovery, with almost complete recovery of indium. The integration of different processes can help address pressing issues in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and ITO industry, such as waste disposal, indium recovery, and circular economy.