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.

He said several groups have reported new solvents that can be used to
dissolve polycarbonates.

³The important challenge is to find the solvent that is environmentally
friendly and is also commercially available,² Chandrasekaran said. ³When it
is commercially available, it makes the whole process much easier and
simpler.²

The PC resins are often known for their ability to insulate electrical
components but have often been exported or sent to disposal after usage. The
solvent, which is called N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or NMP, will provide a much
cleaner use for the PC.

The more environmentally friendly solvent does not need to be heated as much
as other solvents, meaning it can dissolve polymers without fearing the
solvent will vaporize and enter the atmosphere, Chandrasekaran said.

He said the next step in the process would be to get these recycled polymers
through a practical manufacturing process to see their durability as a
product.

To read the full story, visit dailyillini.com/news/2018/04/08/researchers-develop-method-for-recycling-plastic-from-electronic-products/.

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