Study on the Potential Use of Plastics from Electronic Waste to Produce Construction Materials with Enhanced Performance Characteristics

Abstract

This study explores the recycling of end-of-life mobile phone components, specifically printed circuit boards (PCBs) and housing plastics, for construction applications. Tin was extracted from PCBs using a hydrometallurgical method in hydrochloric acid solution. The optimal conditions were identified as a Hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentration of 2 mol/L, a temperature of 75 °C, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10, and a stirring rate of 300 rpm for 6 h. Vibrational activation significantly enhanced the cementation process efficiency, reducing its duration by 70 % and increasing the deposition rate by more than threefold, with the most effective vibration frequencies at 25 and 50 Hz. Recycled housing plastic was tested as a partially acceptable aggregate replacement (5–20 wt% %) in concrete. Compressive strength decreased by 3.12–25.00 % compared to the control; however, even at the 20 wt % level, the resulting concrete met the M200 strength grade, confirming the material’s potential for structural use.