WEEE Recycling: Shredding for Metal Recovery and Decharacterization
Brazil generates 2.1 million tons of WEEE per year (Green Eletron), of which only 3% are formally recycled. The PNRS requires mandatory reverse logistics for electronics.
Typical composition: 1 ton of printed circuit boards contains more gold than 17 tons of ore. Copper represents 10-20% of weight, aluminum appears in heatsinks and chassis, engineering plastics (ABS, PC, PS) are worth R$ 800-2,500/ton. Shredding enables separation — magnetic (ferrous), eddy currents (non-ferrous) and electrostatic (plastics).
The 4-shaft Serie Q is suitable because it combines precise final particle size (10-50 mm), complete decharacterization (data destruction on HDDs) and low rotation that minimizes heating risk with residual batteries.
Process
- Collection and reverse logistics — Collection points from manufacturers, distributors, cooperatives.
- Sorting and disassembly — Separation by type. Removal of hazardous components (lithium batteries, capacitors, fluorescent lamps, CRT screens) and high-value items (boards, HDDs, copper cables).
- Shredding — Serie Q — Fragmentation to 10-50 mm (adjustable by screen). Four shafts with internal classification screen ensure uniform particle size. Complete decharacterization of hard drives and media.
- Magnetic separation — Ferrous removal (steel, iron). Efficiency: 95-99%.
- Eddy current separation — Non-ferrous removal (copper, aluminum). Efficiency: 85-95%.
- Electrostatic separation — Plastics separation. Efficiency: 80-90%.
- Precious metals refining — Concentrated boards sent for hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical refining (gold, silver, palladium).
Value by Recovered Fraction
Estimated values in 2026
| Material | % of WEEE | Indicative Value | Separation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrous (steel, iron) | 40-50% | R$ 300-800/ton | Magnetic |
| Copper | 5-15% | R$ 25,000-35,000/ton | Eddy current |
| Aluminum | 5-10% | R$ 4,000-6,000/ton | Eddy current |
| Plastics (ABS, PS, PP, PC) | 20-30% | R$ 800-2,500/ton | Electrostatic |
| Gold (in boards) | 200-300 g/ton of boards | R$ 300,000-350,000/kg | Hydrometallurgical |
Equipment — Serie Q for WEEE
| Model | Power | Opening | Capacity | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3600-1000 | 150 hp | 1,000 mm | Up to 2 ton/h | Medium recyclers, cooperatives |
| Q4600-1400 | 250 hp | 1,400 mm | Up to 5 ton/h | Large recyclers, reverse logistics |
| Q5300-1600 | 400 hp | 1,600 mm | Up to 10 ton/h | Industrial centers, integrated plants |
Output size: 10-50 mm (adjustable by screen, built into the equipment).
Capacities for mixed WEEE — actual depends on type and density.
