Electronic-waste Management with help of Microorganisms

To know the knowledge about E- Waste Management

1. DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
VIVEKANANDHA
ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
VEERACHIPALAYAM, SANKAGIRI, SALEM, TAMILNADU
SUBJECT : SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
TOPIC : E- WASTE MANAGEMENT
SUBJECT INCHARGE:
Dr. R.DINESHKUMAR,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY,
VIVEKANANDHA ARTS AND SCIENCE
COLLEGE FOR WOMEN,
SANKAGIRI, SALEM, TAMILNADU.
SUMMITED BY:
S.PUNITHA,
II- M.SC MICROBIOLOGY,
VIVEKANANDHA ARTS AND SCIENCE
COLLEGE FOR WOMEN,
SANKAGIRI, SALEM, TAMILNADU

2. OUTLINE
➢INTRODUCTION.
➢TYPE OF E WASTE.
➢IMPACT OF E WASTE.
➢MICROBES INVOLVE IN E WASTE MANAGEMENT.
➢PROPER DISPOSAL OF E WASTE.
➢APPLICATION.
➢CHALLENGE AND FEATURES DIRECTION.
➢CONCLUSION.

3. INTRODUCTION OF E - WASTE
➢E-waste management refers to the proper disposal and recycling of
electronic waste, such as computers, phones, televisions, and other
electronic devices.
➢E-waste is a growing concern globally due to the rapid obsolescence
of electronic devices and the toxic materials they contain.
➢Improper disposal of e-waste can lead to environmental pollution,
health risks, and waste of valuable resources.




fig : E- waste

4. TYPES OF E-WASTE
I.Computers and peripherals (hard drives, keyboards, etc.)
II.Mobile phones and accessories
III.Televisions and monitors
IV.Printers and scanners
V.Refrigerators and air conditioners
VI.Batteries and other hazardous materials

5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
➢Toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, and cadmium can contaminate
soil and water.
➢Burning of e-waste releases harmful gases like dioxins and furans.
➢E-waste can also contribute to climate change through the release of
greenhouse gases.
➢E-waste has a direct impact on climate change as well.
➢When electronics are not disposed of properly, they may end up in
landfills where their hazardous materials can leach into the soil and
water.

6. Environmental Impacts Continue.,
➢E-Waste and Climate Change as well as ,This contributes to water
pollution, air pollution, and other forms of environmental damage
that contribute to global warming.
➢There are several environmental issues that come from not recycling
your e-waste such as
➢SOIL POLLUTION: Electronic waste contains hazardous
chemicals that can leach into the soil and
water when not disposed of properly.

Fig.Soil Pollution

7. Environmental Impacts Continue.,
➢AIR POLLUTION: Burning electronics releases toxic pollutants
into the air, contributing to climate change.
➢WATER POLLUTION: Leached materials from e-waste have the
potential to contaminate local drinking water sources and create
health risks for people or wildlife who come in contact with it.
➢HEALTH RISKS : Exposure to toxic chemicals can cause cancer,
neurological damage, and reproductive issues.
➢ Workers in informal e-waste recycling facilities are particularly
vulnerable.

8. MICROBES INVOLVE IN E WASTE
MANAGEMENT
➢Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing concern globally due to its
toxic and hazardous nature.
➢ Microbiology plays a crucial role in e-waste management through:
1.Bioremediation.
2.Bioleaching.
3.Biosorption.
4.Biodegradation.
5.Biomineralization.

9. Microbes involve in E- waste management
continue.,
➢Bioremediation: Microorganisms can degrade toxic pollutants like
heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial contaminants in e-waste.
➢Bioleaching: Microbes can extract metals like copper, gold, and silver
from e-waste through bioleaching, a process that uses microorganisms
to dissolve metals.
➢Biosorption: Microorganisms can absorb and accumulate heavy metals,
allowing for their removal from e-waste.
➢Biodegradation: Microbes can break down plastics and other organic
materials in e-waste, reducing their environmental impact.
➢Biomineralization: Microorganisms can convert toxic metals into less
toxic or inert minerals, reducing their environmental risk

10. Microbes involve in E- waste management
continue.,
➢Microorganisms used in e-waste management include:
1.BACTERIA : Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Thiobacillus species.
2.FUNGI : Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species
3.ARCHAEA: Metal-reducing archaea like Methanobacterium and
Methanococcus.

11. Microbes involve in E- waste management
continue.,
➢These microorganisms can be used in various e-waste management
processes, such as:
I.Bioreactors: Controlled environments where microorganisms can
degrade or extract materials from e-waste.
II.Biofilters: Systems using microorganisms to remove pollutants
from e-waste.
III.Bioremediation cells: Enclosed systems where microorganisms
can degrade pollutants in e-waste.
➢By harnessing the power of microorganisms, microbiology plays a
crucial role in developing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for
e-waste management.

12. Disposable of E- waste
➢Recycling : Breaking down e-waste into raw materials for reuse-
Recycling processes dismantling, shredding, sorting, and separation-
Materials recovered: metals (copper, gold, silver), plastics, glass,
and rare earth elements- Benefits: conserves natural resources,
reduces landfill waste, and decreases pollution
➢Landfill Disposal : Burying e-waste in landfills, but this can lead to
environmental pollution- Leachate and gas generation: toxic
substances can contaminate soil and groundwater- Lack of
regulation and monitoring in some countries- Not a sustainable
solution due to limited landfill space and environmental risk.

13. Disposable of E- waste continue.,
➢Incineration : Burning e-waste to reduce volume, but this can release
toxic gases- Air pollution: dioxins, furans, and particulate matter can
harm human health- Ash and residue generation: require proper
disposal and management- Energy recovery possible, but not always
efficient or safe.
➢Proper Disposal Facilities: Specialized facilities that safely handle
and process e-waste- Trained personnel, appropriate equipment, and
safety measures- Environmental monitoring and regulation
compliance- Examples: certified electronic waste recyclers,
hazardous waste facilitie.

14. Disposable of E- waste continue.,
➢Donation and Reuse : Donating functional devices to extend their
lifespan- Benefits: reduces waste, supports digital inclusion, and
saves resources- Organizations and initiatives: refurbishment
programs, non-profits, and community centers
➢Refurbishment and Resale : Repairing and reselling devices to
reduce waste and support sustainability- Benefits: reduces electronic
waste, supports local economies, and provides affordable options-
Examples: refurbished computer programs, phone trade-in
initiatives

15. Disposable of E- waste continue.,
Dismantling and Material Recovery : Breaking down devices to
recover valuable materials- Manual dismantling or mechanical
processing- Materials recovered: metals, plastics, glass, and rare
earth elements- Benefits: reduces waste, conserves resources, and
supports recycling.
Secure Data Destruction : Ensuring sensitive data is erased or
destroyed- Methods physical destruction, degaussing, and secure
erasure- Importance protects privacy, prevents data breaches, and
complies with regulations.

16. Disposable of E-waste continue.,
➢Hazardous Waste Disposal: Handling toxic materials like batteries,
CRTs, and PCBs separately- Specialized facilities and procedures
for safe disposal- Examples: battery recycling programs, CRT glass
recycling.
➢Certified Electronic Waste Recyclers : Partnering with certified
recyclers for responsible disposal- Benefits: ensures environmental
responsibility, data security, and compliance- Certifications: e-
Stewards, R2, and ISO 14001.
➢These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the various
methods for disposing of e-waste, including their benefits,
challenges, and importance.

17. APPLICATION
➢Metal Recovery : Microbiology can be used to recover valuable metals
like copper, gold, silver, and palladium from e-waste. Bioleaching and
biosorption are used to extract metals from printed circuit boards, hard
drives, and other electronic components.
➢Toxicity Reduction : Microbiology can be used to detoxify e-waste by
breaking down toxic substances like PCBs, dioxins, and furans.
Biodegradation and biosorption are used to reduce the toxicity of e-
waste, making it safer for disposal or recycling.
➢Waste Reduction : Microbiology can be used to break down e-waste,
reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills. Biodegradation and
bioconversion are used to break down plastics, batteries, and other
electronic components.

18. APPLICATION CONTINUE
➢Environmental Monitoring : Microbiology can be used to monitor
the environmental impact of e-waste. Microbes can be used as
bioindicators to detect the presence of toxic substances in soil,
water, and air.
➢Sustainable Recycling : Microbiology can be used to develop
sustainable recycling technologies for e-waste. Microbes can be
used to break down e-waste, recover valuable metals, and produce
biodegradable products.

19. CHALLENGE AND FEATURES DIRECTION
➢Challenges and limitations Toxicity: e-waste contains toxic
substances harmful to microorganisms and humans- Inhibition: e-
waste contaminants can inhibit microbial growth and activity-
Scalability: microbial processes may not be scalable for large e-
waste quantities.
➢Future research directions Identifying and engineering
microorganisms for efficient e-waste degradation and metal
extraction- Optimizing microbial processes for e-waste treatment
and disposal- Integrating microbial processes with other e-waste
management strategies for sustainable solutions

20. CONCLUSION
➢Microbiology plays a vital role in the sustainable management of
electronic waste (e-waste). Microorganisms can be used to
recover valuable metals, reduce toxicity, break down waste, and
monitor environmental pollution.
➢ The applications of microbiology in e-waste management offer a
promising solution to the growing problem of e-waste disposal.
➢By harnessing the power of microbes, we can develop innovative,
eco-friendly, and cost-effective technologies for e-waste
management.
➢Further research and development are needed to fully explore the
potential of microbiology in e-waste management and to address
the environmental, economic, and social challenges associated
with e-waste disposal.

21. THANKYOU