Electronic Waste and Environmental Pollution

Electronic waste or E-waste is the term for expired and end-of-life electronics that have been dumped by their owners. Examples include televisions, laptops, freezers, generators, computers, and other electrical devices, which contains toxic metal like Ni, Pb, Sn, Al, Cu Mn, and Fe, along with many kinds of metal oxide, glass Fiber, plastics, and ceramics that are bonded to and covered in the waste. Improper waste management techniques of these e-waste may have a serious effect on living beings. The presence of these hazardous wastes in the environment will make vulnerable conditions to aquatic as well as terrestrial life. To date, several conventional techniques have been implemented to treat this hazardous e-waste but biological treatment is more efficient from all, basic economic and environmental points of view. Through the utilization of microorganisms like bacteria or archaea, the extraction technique known as “bio-recovery of metals” can remove valuable metals from low-grade ore.

The purpose of this book is to discuss the challenges that have arisen due to e-waste, their harmful effects on the ecosystem, and limitations as well as the improvement of current biological techniques used for the management and recovery of e-waste. This book focuses on the role of advanced green engineering technologies for sustainable e-waste management in building an economically supportable society as a basic need of developing countries.