Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
As electronic waste continues to pile up across the country, researchers at IIT Madras have developed an indigenous pilot plant capable of processing 100 tonnes of electronic waste every year.
The facility has been set up at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchirappalli and focusses on recycling bare printed circuit boards (PCBs), one of the most valuable yet hazardous parts of discarded electronic devices.
advertisement
The pilot plant has been designed to recover useful metals while ensuring that the recycling process does not release harmful waste into the environment.
WHY PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS MATTER
Printed circuit boards contain large quantities of copper, lead and tin. If electronic waste is dumped without proper treatment, these metals can seep into soil and groundwater, posing long-term environmental and public health risks.
The newly developed system recovers these metals through a single-acid, zero-discharge process, making it cleaner than many conventional recycling methods. It also provides a scalable model that can be expanded to handle larger volumes of electronic waste in the future.
FROM LAB TO REAL LIFE
The technology behind the plant began as an exploratory research project funded internally by IIT Madras. It has now evolved from laboratory experiments into a fully functional pilot facility.
Highlighting its significance, Professor S. Pushpavanam, YBG Varma Chair Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “With India’s e-waste challenge accelerating, this pilot plant offers a ready-to-scale model for clean metal recovery. The work aligns with Make in India, the circular economy, and critical minerals security. It also provides a rare example of academic research translating into technology development.”
BUILT IN INDIA, READY TO SCALE
According to the researchers, the pilot plant stands out because it uses only a single acid throughout the recovery process, operates with zero liquid discharge and has been designed and manufactured entirely by Indian firms based on IIT Madras research.
The facility also incorporates automated operations with multiple safety features, making it suitable for large-scale deployment.
With India generating nearly five million metric tonnes of electronic waste every year, the institute believes this indigenous technology could play a key role in strengthening sustainable recycling, reducing pollution and supporting the country’s circular economy goals.
(With PTI inputs)
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
