AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FIT FOR A CHANGING WORLD.
WEEE Metallica offers a sustainable solution to recycle printed circuit boards (PCB) in order to extract re-usable metal components while eliminating organic matter as well as all toxic gas and emission. The end product is a high-grade non-ferrous metal concentrate which can be directly reintroduced into the marketplace.
Read on to learn about our plant operating in Isbergues, France.
SOURCING & PREPARATION
Shipments of PCB arrive daily at our Isbergues facility delivered by our partners.
The printed circuit boards are readied for processing by using an automated sequence of shredding, iron separation by magnetic band and aluminum separation by Eddy current.
The resulting material becomes the main feeding ingredient for our recycling furnace.
SAMPLING & ANALYSIS
For optimal control and monitoring of the integrity of our process, the material is systematically sampled and analysed at defined stages during its journey through our plant.
Our on-site laboratory uses state-of-the-art equipment to determine the composition and valuation of the processed material. This allows WEEE Metallica to optimize its operation and maximize the quality of our end product.
THE PYROLYSIS PROCESS
This is the heart of the operation!
The pyrolysis furnace eliminates all the organic components (plastics and resins) and retain all the useful metals.
Once loaded at the top via conveyor belt, the material travels down the furnace in a multi-step low-heat pyrolysis process reaching a temperatures of 500 degrees. The resulting gases from the pyrolysis are treated and neutralized in an independent post-combustion system.
While the whole process is fully automated, every stage is closely monitored from the control room to overview the transformation from raw material to a valuable metal concentrate.
GAS EMISSIONS TREATMENT
To minimize our environmental impact, all emissions generated during the pyrolysis process are neutralized internally before they are released outside. The gases are collected directly from the furnace by extraction and go through several stages of remediation. These include the post combustion – which destroy organic halogens, DeNox (Catalytic Nitrogen Oxide reduction) as well as sodium bicarbonate and activated carbon injection. During these treatments, the gases reach temperature of above 1100 degrees.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
Safety, security and environmental responsibility are at the core of our business. As such, we maintain a very close relationship with the local authorities and environmental representatives in the region and beyond. Our facilities are equipped with an emission monitoring systems which operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The system uses an array of sensors and sampling units to ensure that all undesirable gas or particle are not released in the atmosphere.
Our emission reports are continually communicated to the DREAL (France environmental agency) to maintain the full transparency of our operation.
PACKAGING & SHIPPING
Once free from organic and ferrous components, our final product classifies as a homogenized concentrate of copper and precious metals.
This concentrate, which is comparable to copper ore extracted from a traditional mining operation does not require any additional treatment. Working hand in hand with our parent company Metallica Commodities Corp., we deliver high-grade metal concentrate to smelters around the world.