Thermal Recovery of Functional Coatings (TReFCo)
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: College of Engineering
Abstract
When devices such as computers, smart phones and batteries are sent for recycling not all of the materials are captured for use in new devices. The metals are most likely to be recycled because they are easy to separate and their methods of recycling are well established. Specialist coatings often made with rare and expensive materials enable our modern electronics to work. However these coatings often cause problems when it comes to recycling, they can mean that the metals are more contaminated and so these coatings are often burnt off, causing pollution and adding cost to the recycling process. It also means that the expensive cleverly engineered coating has been lost and its value not realised.
TReFCo aims to develop a low cost method for removing these coatings so that they can be reused to make new devices. This will have multiple benefits; it will mean that valuable raw materials are kept within the supply chain, supporting the UK economy. It will also mean that the materials that they were coated on are cleaner prior to their recycling process ensuring a purer recycled product at a lower cost.
The method employed by TReFCo will be to subject the coatings to near infrared radiation to burn the binder (glue) that holds the coating in place without damaging the coating material or the substrate material.
TReFCo will also develop new adhesives that will 'unglue' when exposed to near infrared radiation, making it easier (and cheaper) to take devices apart before they are recycled. This could also be used within a repair process.
In addition to the technical developments during the project a lifecycle analysis will be undertaken - this will ensure that researchers fully understand the environmental costs of producing materials and recycling them. Identifying any areas that are environmentally damaging in order that they can be avoided by material design or by changing the processing methods. In all the aim of the project is to make the possibility of a truly circular economy one step closer to being a reality.
TReFCo aims to develop a low cost method for removing these coatings so that they can be reused to make new devices. This will have multiple benefits; it will mean that valuable raw materials are kept within the supply chain, supporting the UK economy. It will also mean that the materials that they were coated on are cleaner prior to their recycling process ensuring a purer recycled product at a lower cost.
The method employed by TReFCo will be to subject the coatings to near infrared radiation to burn the binder (glue) that holds the coating in place without damaging the coating material or the substrate material.
TReFCo will also develop new adhesives that will 'unglue' when exposed to near infrared radiation, making it easier (and cheaper) to take devices apart before they are recycled. This could also be used within a repair process.
In addition to the technical developments during the project a lifecycle analysis will be undertaken - this will ensure that researchers fully understand the environmental costs of producing materials and recycling them. Identifying any areas that are environmentally damaging in order that they can be avoided by material design or by changing the processing methods. In all the aim of the project is to make the possibility of a truly circular economy one step closer to being a reality.
Organisations
- Swansea University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Keeling & Walker (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Precision Varionic International (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Wrap (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Tata Group UK (Project Partner)
- adphos Group (International) (Project Partner)
- Elemental Inks & Chemicals (Project Partner)
- PLUG LIFE CONSULTING LTD (Project Partner)
Publications
Charles R
(2023)
Circular economy for perovskite solar cells - drivers, progress and challenges
in Energy & Environmental Science
Griffin R
(2022)
Comparative Study of Radiative Heating Techniques for Fast Processing of Functional Coatings for Sustainable Energy Applications Applications of radiative mechanisms in solar energy, battery storage and fuel cells
in Johnson Matthey Technology Review
Harper G
(2023)
Roadmap for a sustainable circular economy in lithium-ion and future battery technologies
in Journal of Physics: Energy
Description | RSC response to Foreign Affaris Commity on CRMs |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/78/foreign-affairs-committee/news/175198/foreign-affairs-... |
Description | Burlington Consensus 2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was an invitation only event hosted by the RSC to eastblish priority issues for assessment by the Science-Policy Panel and how best to involve stakeholders' expertise. The SPP was established following a UN resolution that an IPCC / IPBES like international intergovernmental body should be established to deal with issues of pollution and the prevention of waste. The RSC are named key stakeholders in this and are supporting the UN in the process of establishing the Panel. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.rsc.org/news-events/features/2023/jan/burlington-consensus-2/ |
Description | Energy Warriors |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School children from the region were invited to Swansea University for a day learning about Solar energy. As part of this I gave an introductory talk to the children about how solar cells work and ran lab pracs for the children in which they made their own dye-sensitized solar cells. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.specific.eu.com/energy-warriors-outreach/ |
Description | IMRC 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave an invited talk at the International Materials Research Congress, 2022, Cancun, Mexico. QUANTIFYING THE WASTE PROBLEM PV DEPLOYMENT, AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY OPPORTUNITY FOR EMERGING PV, Rhys Charles and Matthew Davies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.mrs-mexico.org.mx/imrc2022/abstracts-read.php?r=02626&id=6 |
Description | RSC CSCE |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was an invited member of the Advisory group to the RSC Chemistry, Sustainability and Circular Economy (CSCE) program. This program examined issues related to global sustainability and the role of Roy Soc Chem in helping to deliver this. The programme of work focussed on Chemistry, Sustainability and the Circular Economy (CSCE) and the role which chemistry can play in providing a solution for the associated challenges. It examined issues with education around sustainability, resulted in RSC joining the Race to net zero and developing a comprehensive plan for emissions reduction across the organization, and delivered a program of public engagement activities including a global experiment and numerous events around COP26 climate talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | RSC Sustainability Forum Panel disucssion at AGM |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Participated as an expert panel member for the RSC (Roy. Soc. Chem.) Sustainability Forum discussions ahead of the 2022 AGM. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://members.rsc.org/site/content/Governance/AnnualGeneralMeeting.aspx |