Unlocking hidden potential within discarded electronic devices, batteries, and solar panels

Microscopy Solutions for Natural Resources

Urban Mining

Maximize Your Resource Recovery with Advanced Microscopy Techniques

By employing advanced microscopy techniques, researchers and industry professionals can delve into the intricate world of urban mining, unlocking hidden potential within discarded electronic devices, batteries, and solar panels. Microscopic analysis enables the characterization of various components present in electronic waste, such as printed circuit boards, semiconductors, and other electronic components, which are valuable sources of precious metals and rare earth elements. By examining these materials, researchers and recyclers can determine the most effective and efficient methods for extraction and recovery. Additionally, microscopy techniques allow for the identification and analysis of particles and minerals present in urban mining residues, such as construction and demolition waste, municipal solid waste, and industrial by-products. This helps in the identification of valuable or potentially hazardous minerals, as well as the evaluation of particle size distribution and liberation characteristics, aiding in the optimization of separation and processing techniques.

High-resolution imaging of e-waste materials

E-Waste Characterization

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) enables high-resolution imaging of e-waste materials, revealing surface morphologies of components, and the distribution of chemical elements. Combined with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), offer elemental analysis to identify specific components within e-waste samples. Additionally, ZEISS Mineralogic is unique, in that it uses fully quantitative EDS analysis and applies in-built matrix corrections and peak deconvolutions to each acquired EDS spectrum. These spectra are then quantified to provide measured chemical composition of each analyzed point and thus allow phase classification based on the directly measured wt% contribution of the elements present. Go further with ZEISS micro-CT techniques, allowing for three-dimensional imaging, aiding in the visualization of complex structures and their spatial relationships. By harnessing these microscopy methods, researchers and environmental scientists can unravel the intricacies of e-waste, facilitating informed decisions for recycling and disposal.