Industry News

Increasing volumes of end-of-life printed circuit boards are driving growing demand for reliable material valuation prior to metallurgical refining. As one of the most valuable fractions within electronic scrap streams, printed circuit boards contain significant concentrations of copper, gold, silver and palladium. At the same time, their heterogeneous composition makes representative sampling a major technical and economic challenge for recycling operators and refiners alike.

German plant engineering company URT Umwelt- und Recyclingtechnik GmbH supplies industrial preparation and sampling plants specifically designed for representative PCB sampling prior to metallurgical treatment. The process technology enables reproducible analytical samples for reliable determination of metal contents and supports transparent valuation of PCB batches for refining contracts and material settlements.

URT’s process concept is based on progressive size reduction combined with controlled sample division in order to homogenise PCB material before analytical sampling. Printed circuit boards are processed through multiple comminution stages using rotary shear technology and granulators. Between the individual size reduction stages, defined portions of the material stream are separated using rotating tube dividers, while vibrating chutes ensure uniform material distribution and stable sample splitting throughout the process.

The process sequence includes an initial PCB fraction of approximately 0–30 mm, intermediate shredding using a rotary shear with perforated screen (10 mm), further size reduction using a granulator and a final fine fraction of approximately 0–5 mm. After each reduction stage, a defined portion of the material stream is separated. This stepwise reduction ensures that the final analytical sample accurately reflects the composition of the original PCB batch.

The resulting analytical samples are used to determine the concentration of copper, gold, silver and palladium prior to refining. The sampling concept follows triplicate sample splitting with intermediate shredding, enabling progressive homogenisation of PCB material and reproducible analytical results across varying input compositions.

In addition to representative sampling, the process can include optional mechanical pre-treatment and metal separation prior to sample preparation. Printed circuit boards can first be processed in a rotary shear equipped with a perforated screen of approximately 20 mm. Following shredding, the material passes a magnet for ferrous metal separation and through an eddy-current separator for aluminium removal. Depending on the PCB composition, recovery of ferrous metals from low-grade PCB can reach approximately 20% of the input mass, while aluminium fractions can account for approximately 10%.

The removal of ferrous and aluminium fractions improves the homogeneity of the remaining PCB material and can increase the efficiency of downstream metallurgical refining. Especially aluminium serves as a slag creator during refining processes.

The PCB preparation plants are engineered for industrial operation and reproducible process stability. Rotating tube dividers ensure precise sample splitting, while PLC-based control systems continuously monitor operating parameters and maintain stable process control. URT plants can process up to 10 tonnes per hour and can be adapted to different batch sizes, PCB fractions and integration requirements within existing recycling facilities.

The modular plant architecture additionally enables integration of optional screening, magnetic separation, eddy-current separation and electrostatic separation technologies depending on customer requirements and downstream refining concepts. The combination of controlled comminution, representative sample division and industrial automation supports reliable analytical quality, stable processing conditions and low operating costs for plant operators.

In addition to several industrial reference plants already implemented worldwide, URT is currently commissioning a further PCB sampling plant in India. The project underlines the growing international demand for industrial process technology enabling reproducible analytical sampling and reliable material valuation for metallurgical refining operations.

Meet URT Umwelt - und Recyclingtechnik's team at Stand G35 or visit their website for more information.

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Join us on 17–18 June 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, for the industry’s most influential gathering of recycling companies, critical raw material suppliers, electronics and battery manufacturers, and ITAD specialists. This free-to-attend exhibition and conference grants you the unique opportunity to gain access to 4 co-located shows: E-Waste World Expo, Battery Recycling Expo, Metal Recycling Expo, and ITAD & Circular Electronics Expo. 

The information within the copy was supplied by URT Umwelt - und Recyclingtechnik GmbH.