A great variety of plastics are used in IT products, which differ not only by plastic type but also by color and presence of additives such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs). In this study, to identify the plastics containing BFRs and heavy metals (i.e., Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr6+), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used. Polypropylene (PP)-type black plastic samples that were obtained from three different types of used electric cookers were analyzed. The spectrum peaks observed in the LIBS system confirmed the presence of BFRs and heavy metals. The number of Br peaks were identified and the data were compared with the previous atomic spectra database. In the near future, the recycling of plastics from e-waste may become more important not only to reduce the amount of waste requiring treatment but also to eliminate the plastics containing hazardous components and compounds.

There are many stringent environmental regulations on the management of waste electrical and electronic equipments(WEEE) in most developed countries. WEEE directive aims at increasing collection and recycling rate of WEEE whereas,while the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) aims at restricting hazardous materials duringthe production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). TV housing rear covers consist of small portion of brominatedflame retardants (BFRs). Improper management and disposal of such waste can pose impacts on the environment andhuman health. In Korea, there are very few available statistical data regarding BFRs levels in TVs housing rear covers.In order to provide additional measures related to management of BFRs, there is a need for a quantitative material flowstudy on the amount of BFR found in TVs. This can be achieved by the aid of material flow analysis of the TV setsand by studying the Deca-BDE components present in the TV housing read covers. In this study, the relevant data werecollected from the statistical reports and through field site visits to the WEEE recycling facilities with surveys. Staticand dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) was conducted to determine material flow of BFRs (Deca-BDE) in themanagement of waste TVs. According to this study, in 2011, households in Korea use 73,821ton of TV sets of which23,592ton of waste TV sets were collected and recycled by municipalities and producers. Extended ProducerResponsibility (EPR) played a major role in recycling of WEEE. In this study, it was predicted that Deca-BDE in usestage would reach down to 51.73ton by 2016. In addition, the amount of Deca-BDE present at the disposal and recyclingstage is estimated to be approximately 2.45ton by 2018.

The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been used in many household products such as plastics of electronicequipment, furniture, textiles to increase their flame ignition resistance. Among the mixtures of BFRs, polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) have been widely usedas commercial additive during the last decade. This study has been performed to investigate the concentration of BFRsin waste electrical and electronic equipment which has potential threat on environment and human health. We analyzedPBDEs, TBBPA and HBCD in 18 products from 2 TV manufacturing companies, 19 parts from 3 refrigerators, shreddedplastic from recycling center, 3 other plastics from recovery process, and 43 small electronics using heating source. Theconcentration of PBDEs in TVs ranged from 306mg/kg (manufactured since the year of 2000) to 145,027mg/kg(manufactured in 1983~1997). The concentration range of PBDEs in rear housing is greater than those of front cover.The concentration of TBBPA were detected from 30 to 201mg/kg and HBCD was not detected (ND) in all samples ofTV. The PBDEs concentrations in plastics of refrigerator waste were detected from ND to 445mg/kg, the concentrationof PBDEs in upper housing cover is higher than those of other parts. The concentration of PBDEs in small electronicswas not detected in most products but HBCD and TBBPA were detected several hundred ppm in 1mixer and severaldozen of ppm in 1mixer, 1 coffee port and 2 electronic rice cookers, respectively. Based on the concentrationcharacteristics of BFRs in waste electrical and electronic equipment, we will be established the environmentally soundstrategies for the management policies of the waste containing BFRs.

최근 컴퓨터 사용과 교체에 따른 폐컴퓨터가 지속적으로 발생하고 있다. 이러한 폐컴퓨터에는 각종 유가자원, 유가금속 뿐만 아니라 다양한 유해물질도 함유되어 있어 적정 관리가 필요하다. 특히 컴퓨터의 주요 구성 성분 중 플라스틱 물질에는 난연제가 함유되어 있어 잠재적 환경 영향과 노출이 우려된다. EU에서는 `06년에 RoHS 지침을 통해 전기전자제품 내 난연제 중 PBDEs의 농도를 0.1% 이하로 제한하고 있다. 이에 따라 최근 생산된 전기전자제품은 PBDEs 함유량이 매우 적은 반면, RoHS 지침이 시행되기 이전의 전기전자제품이 폐기되어 발생되면서 그 문제가 발생되고 있다. 하지만, 현재 국내에서는 폐전기전자제품에 포함된 플라스틱 내 브롬화 난연제의 자료가 해외에 비해 부족한 실정으로 향후 관련 대책을 마련하기 위해서는 그 흐름과 정량적인 데이터 확보가 필요하다. 여러 연구에서 전기전자제품 중에서는 TV와 컴퓨터 모니터에 가장 많은 브롬화 난연제를 함유하고 있다고 알려져 있다. 스위스의 한 연구보고서에 따르면 모니터의 커버(하우징) 플라스틱에서 PBDEs의 함유량이 최고 7,800 mg/kg이며 모든 시료에서 RoHS 지침의 한계농도 0.1%를 모두 초과한다고 밝혔다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 컴퓨터 모니터와 하우징 플라스틱과 플라스틱 내 난연제 Deca-BDE의 물질흐름분석을 실시하였다. 본 연구에서는 관련 통계데이터와 문헌조사 및 전문가 자문을 통해 모니터의 물질흐름분석을 수행하였다. 재활용 및 폐기 단계의 폐전기전자제품의 통계데이터 구축이 미흡하여 많은 부분에서 가정값이 사용되었으며, 이때는 문헌조사 및 전문가 자문을 통해 그 객관성을 높이고자 하였다. 또한, 관련 전문가의 검증을 통해 데이터의 불확실성을 줄이고자 노력하였다. 먼저, 정적 물질흐름분석을 수행하기 위해 시스템 경계를 국내 출고량부터 최종처분되는 단계까지로 선정하였으며, 시간적 경계로는 2011년으로 선정하였다. 먼저, 정적물질흐름분석 수행 결과로는 2011년 한해 17,463톤의 컴퓨터 모니터가 출고되어 5,361톤의 모니터가 수거 및 재활용되었다. 회수주체로는 생산자/판매업자가 아닌 재활용업체가 약 87%로 가장 많은 비율을 차지하였다. 이는 기존의 국내에서 시행된 생산자책임재활용제도(EPR)로 인한 것으로 보인다. 2011년 한해 3,547톤의 모니터가 리사이클링센터를 통해 분쇄 및 파쇄되어 이들 대부분은 건설분야의 재료로 쓰이거나 저급플라스틱의 원료로 재활용되는 것으로 분석되었다. 또한, 1,814톤의 모니터는 재활용되지 않고 재사용 목적으로 해외 수출되는 것으로 나타났다.