Steam gasification of printed circuit board from e-waste: Effect of coexisting nickel to hydrogen production

• Steam gasification is a feasible method to produce clean H2 fuel from PB and WEEE.
• PB steam gasification was effective in the presence of molten carbonates and at mild conditions, not exceeding 948 K.
• The addition of nickel powder showed a catalytic effect improving the steam gasification of the plastic components.
• After the process, it was possible to recover the useful metals contained in WEEE for the reuse.

Steam gasification of phenolic boards (PB) in the presence of ternary eutectic carbonates (LNK–carbonate mixture: Li2CO3, Na2CO3 and K2CO3) was carried out at 823–948 K under atmospheric pressure to produce clean hydrogen. Rates of hydrogen formation were accelerated in the presence of nickel metal powder in the low temperature range (823 K). The experimental results imply that unsupported nickel metal powder or small nickel pieces in molten carbonate could be used as catalyst to produce hydrogen on steam gasification of e-waste.