1. www.benkeet.com ©2011 Ben Keet 1 Pilot Study Bromine containing Polymers at SIMS Recycling Auckland, New Zealand A study carried out for the Ministry for the Environment Drs. Ben Keet Geo & Hydro – K8 Ltd e-mail: ben@benkeet.comben@benkeet.com

2. Br concentration range www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 2 Sample type max concentrations found Average PCB concentration low concentrations found WEEE/RoH EU limit of Br high calibration (Br) low calibration (Br) Limit Of Detection of XRF Note: Log Scale % Bromine

3. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 3

4. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 4

5. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 5

6. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 6 Calibrate the XRF instrument using polymer standards

7. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 7

8. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 8

9. Br in WEEE study www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 9 Break down into components 

10. Next: Demonstration: XRF analysis Followed by: Site Tour Think: Safety Watch out for: Forklift trucks www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 10

11. Key findings www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 11 Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) usually contain high levels of BFR (bromine over 100,000 mg/kg)

12. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 12 Key findings (continued) Generally fans all contain BFR’s (bromine over 50,000 mg/kg)

13. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 13 Key findings (continued) 50% of the laser printer toner cartridges have bromine over 50,000 mg/kg (75,000 – 180,000 mg/kg)

14. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 14 Key findings (continued) Some items look alike but have very different BFR concentrations

15. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 15 Key findings (continued) Often the plastic panels on one instrument seem to contain BFR’s at random. Example: Ricoh photocopier 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 % 50% of panels Br < 0.035 %

16. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 16 Key findings (continued) 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 %  50% of panels Br < 0.035 % ↓

17. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 17 Key findings (continued) Articles with a RoHS sticker still contain BFR components example item 3 IBM desktop computer made in China 2006, contains 2 fans both with over 80,000 mg/kg bromine concentration (8 %)

18. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 18 Many small items which would not normally get hot Still have high Br levels Example telecom phone wire splitters Bromine up to 180,000 mg/kg (18 %) Key findings (continued)

19. www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 19 Finally – to confuse you all Not all articles close to heat sources contain BFR’s, Example: hair dryer (item 33) Br < 10 mg/kg (< 0.001 % Key findings (continued)

20. Conclusions www.benkeet.com©2011 Ben Keet 20 Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were found at significant levels in New Zealand’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) The BFRs ranged up to levels (>10%) far in excess of that permitted under the EU RoH (0.1%) in components of the majority of articles investigated Follow up analytical determinations would be needed to confirm BDEs as a principal component of the BFRs detected In order to meet the expectations of the COP-5 recommendation of Stockholm Convention on BDEs, these findings indicate that New Zealand may need to consider feasible options for the environmentally sound management of WEEE The handheld XRF analyser is a simple and effective instrument to identify Bromine in WEEE

21. www.benkeet.com©2008 Ben Keet 21 Thank you for your attention Questions - Discussion