Disassembly and physical separation of electric/electronic components layered in printed circuit boards (PCB)

► The disassembly of electric/electronic components (EECs) layered in PCB as the first-step in recycling process. ► The disassembling treatment was carried out by the new designed apparatus. ► Most of the EECs (over 95%) can be recovered in a nondestructive state. ► These EECs contain 17 groups and can be classified into 54 types based on their shapes and sizes. ► The successive 3 stages of physical separation would enables the recovery of minor ingredients.