Managing Hazardous Wastes in Africa: Recyclability of Lead from E-waste Materials

Adaptation of the Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) is growing in many African countries determined to access the global market system driven by ICTs. As a result of high poverty level in Africa, however, the consumption of ICTs is concentrated on the inferior and used components, which soon become unserviceable and abandoned. Along with the hazardous chemical substances contained in them in significant quantity they are often discarded improperly. Moreso, as the continent weak in environmental regulation. This practice contributes to health and environmental hazards and unsustainable development. There is the need to reclaim and/or recycle components e-wastes growing in quantity in Africa. This study extracted lead from e-waste materials and converted it to an industrial good, lead (II) oxide, for recycling to the industry. Among the commonly used chemical reactor materials (metals, copper, iron, zinc, alloys glass and plastic) the metals were considered unsuitable as reactor materials on account of interfering reactions. Glass was also considered inadvisable on account of breakages and the attendant wastes while plastic (PVC) material was considered best for chemical extraction and recycling process of lead from e-waste materials. It is recommended that e-waste materials containing lead should be recovered and separated for hand-dismantling and mechanical extraction of old solder (lead) by use of soldering iron. The lead-extract should be treated in plastic (PVC) reactors to get lead (II) oxide for recycling to the industry. Also, policy should be put in place for the necessary regulation and management of e-wastes and recycling of lead from them.