Key facts
- IIT Madras researchers have developed an indigenous pilot plant to process electronic waste.
- The plant has a capacity to process 100 tonnes of e-waste per year.
- It specifically treats bare-printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are rich in copper, lead, and tin.
- The process is designed for zero discharge, using a single acid to recover metals.
- The pilot plant is located at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchirapalli.
Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an indigenous pilot plant capable of processing 100 tonnes of electronic waste per year. The facility, located at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchirapalli, focuses on treating bare-printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are hazardous and metal-rich components of e-waste.
The plant utilizes a zero-discharge, single-acid process to recover valuable metals like copper, lead, and tin from PCBs. This technology aims to mitigate the environmental and public health risks associated with improper e-waste disposal, where these metals can leach into soil and groundwater. Professor S Pushpavanam highlighted that the innovation is a scalable model for clean metal recovery, aligning with 'Make in India' initiatives, the circular economy, and critical minerals security.
Key features of the pilot plant include the use of a single acid for a zero-discharge process, complete fabrication by Indian firms based on IIT Madras research, and automated operations with integrated safety measures. This development comes at a time when India generates nearly five million metric tonnes of e-waste annually.