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In the total amount of PC LCD monitors that the top 12 brands sold between January 10 2009 and January 10 2010 was approximately 139 million units [2].
In the total amount of PC LCD monitors that the top 12 brands sold between January 10 2009 and January 10 2010 was approximately 139 million units [2].
[[Image: |Thumb| Fig.2 Top 12 Brand Production for January 2009 to April 2010]]
[[Image: DisplaySearch.png |Thumb| Fig.2 Top 12 Brand Production for January 2009 to April 2010]]


The growth for the production of LCD screens is expected to slowdown in the next two years [3].
The growth for the production of LCD screens is expected to slowdown in the next two years [3].
[[Image: DisplaySearch.png |Thumb| Fig.3 LCD Panels Produced from 2009 to 2014]]
[[Image: Global_LCD.png |Thumb| Fig.3 LCD Panels Produced from 2009 to 2014]]


[1] Reference: http://news.techeye.net/business/lcd-monitor-production-will-continue-to-soar
[1] Reference: http://news.techeye.net/business/lcd-monitor-production-will-continue-to-soar

Revision as of 02:04, 28 September 2012

Template:MY3701

Authors


Overview

The technology that me and my colleagues have chosen to examine as a possible semiconductor recycling project is the LCD PC monitor. We have chosen Dell[1] to take a closer look at the viability of recycling semiconductors. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon is the typical choice of semiconductor material in the manufacturing of LCD monitors. It is the best choice of semiconductor material because it can be "grown" over large areas. The structure of this silicon is not that of a crystalline material. It lacks the long range order that is present in crystalline silicon. Within the material there are vacancies that form, leaving behind dangling bonds; these free bonds are free electrons from the silicon that have not bonded with another silicon atom. However, the addition of the hydrogen atoms reduces the amount of dangling bonds because hydrogen consists of one free electron and can attach to the vacant bonds. This can be seen in Figure 1. (shows the gaps and dangling bonds with hydrogen atoms in the structure of the silicon. figure 1)

The process of which the hydrogenated amorphous silicon is deposited onto a substrate is called plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). This process uses silane gas which enters the chemical vapor deposition chamber and dissociates into a cloud of plasma. This plasma is induced by a radio frequency power generator; the chamber that holds this process must be in a vacuum to eliminate any impurities in the process. Similiar to an electron beam deposition process,the silicon and hydrogen atoms condense on a substrate, in LCD monitors this would be the glass, and make the thin layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon. The setup of this process is shown in Figure 2. (Figure 2)[2]

Scale of market

The production of PC LCD monitors on the worldwide market shows Dell, Samsung, and LGE at the top of the market selling most for the 12 Brands selling from as low as 10 million units in a month to nearly 15 million units a month for 2010 [1]. Fig.1 Top 12 Brands Production of LCD PC Monitors (January to August 2010)

In the total amount of PC LCD monitors that the top 12 brands sold between January 10 2009 and January 10 2010 was approximately 139 million units [2]. File:DisplaySearch.png

The growth for the production of LCD screens is expected to slowdown in the next two years [3]. File:Global LCD.png

[1] Reference: http://news.techeye.net/business/lcd-monitor-production-will-continue-to-soar

[2] Reference: http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/100201_lcd_monthly_desktop_monitor_production_rate_highest_since_mid_2008.asp

[3] Reference: http://www.isuppli.com/Display-Materials-and-Systems/MarketWatch/Pages/LCD-Panel-Market-Growth-Slows-in-2011.aspx

Recycling practices

Dell


Yes, LCD monitors are recycled.

Scrap LCD monitors are sold for recycling of the actual LCD panel when its not cracked, if it is cracked, its value drops dramatically to almost 0 since the only thing that is left to recycle is the actual printed circuit board and the circuit board in the LCD monitor is usually lower grade. [1]


HOW to recycle your LCD monitors…

To prevent your old electronics from being melted down over a rudimentary stove in Guiyu, China, or being tossed into a landfill in Lagos, Nigeria, you’ll want to choose a reputable recycler. [2]

Recycling LCD monitors is easy if you do not have to go through the process yourself. There are multiple companies that allow you to send in your monitors for free, for a price or you can even drop them off at specific locations and they will handle it all for you. Some of these companies include Apple, Staples and Dell. Michigan Technological University allows people to drop off their monitors and the Apple store will recycle it all. If you want to go straight through Apple, their recycling process is to purchase any Apple computer or monitor and receive free recycling of your old computer and monitor no matter what the brand is.

WHY it should be recycled…

Electronics consist of valuable resources, such as precious metals, copper, and engineered plastics, all of which require considerable energy to process and manufacture. Recycling electronics recovers valuable materials, conserves virgin resources, and results in lower environmental emissions (including greenhouse gases) than making products from virgin materials. For example: Recycling one million desktop computers prevents the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of 16,000 passenger cars. By recycling 100 million cell phones, approximately 7,500 pounds of gold could be recovered - allowing that amount of gold to go into new products. Recovering the gold from cell phones, rather than mining it from the earth, would prevent 12,000,000,000 pounds of loose soil, sand, and rock from having to be moved, mined, and processed. [4]


DANGERS of not recycling properly..

Electronic waste isn’t just waste, it contains some very toxic substances, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. When the latter are burned at low temperatures they create additional toxins, such as halogenated dioxins and furans – some of the most toxic substances known to humankind. The toxic materials in electronics can cause cancer, reproductive disorders, endocrine disruption, and many other health problems if this waste stream is not properly managed. Many of the toxic constituents are elements, which means they never disappear, even though they may change form. Other toxic chemicals in electronics do not break down over time and instead, accumulate in the food chain and biosphere. Not only do these toxins present risks to communities and the global ecosystem, but also to electronics recycling workers, even in developed countries.

An estimated 70-80% of the e-waste that’s given to recyclers is exported to less developed countries. Once there, primitive technologies such as open air burning and riverside acid baths are used to extract a few materials. The rest of the toxic materials are usually dumped. Unlike other countries in the world, the U.S. sends a significant portion of its hazardous e-waste to U.S. prisons to process in less-regulated environments without the worker protections and rights afforded in the private sector. Moreover, such operations amount to government subsidies, undermining the development of responsible private-sector recycling infra-structure and distorting the economics of recycling. [4]


What can the recycled be used for…

Flat screen LCD monitors and televisions contain toxic substances that can wreak havoc on the environment, but they may also have a silver lining -- or in this case, a silver nanoparticle and PVA lining.

British scientists have discovered that by separating the films of LCD screens, they can remove the polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) and turn it into a disinfectant. According to the researchers, the substance can kill harmful bacteria including strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Andrew Hunt of the University of York says, "We can add significant value this waste...that has great potential for use in biomedicine. Now we have gone a step further by enhancing its anti-microbial properties through the addition of silver nanoparticles, with the result being that it can destroy bacterial infections."

Previous research of theirs has found that pure PVA might be useful in human tissue regeneration and possibly in treatments to transport medications to specific areas of the body. By adding a dash of silver to the screen material, they hope to potentially make antibiotic cleaning solutions for hospital use.

And what to do with the rest of the toxins leaking from our technotrash? The EPA estimates that in 2005, the computers, TVs, VCRs, monitors, cell phones and other electric items ditched by Americans amounted to almost 2 million tons. That’s a whole lot of lead, mercury, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, and other dangerous substances. That's why it's so important to recycle your old electronics.[3]

1) Grossman, Elizabeth. Salon. N.p., 10 Apr. 2006. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. <http://www.salon.com/2006/04/10/greenguide/>.

2) "LCD Monitors recycling." B.W Recycling Inc.. B.W. Recycling, Inc, 1 Sept. 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. <http://www.computersrecyclingcompany.com/lcdmonitors.htm>.

3) "LCD toxic trash: useful antibiotic?." Smart Planet. Ed. Melissa Mahony. N.p., June 2010. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. <http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/lcd-toxic-trash-useful-antibiotic/1663>.

4) "Reuse & recycle." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2012. <http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/plugin/reuse.htm>.

Amount of semiconductor in market

Methods of collecting lost semiconductor materials

References

[3]



Template:Reflist

  1. "Dell Monitors." : Computer Monitor, LCD Display and Screen. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2012. <http://www.dell.com/monitors>
  2. insert ref
  3. "TFT LCD TV - What Is TFT LCD?" TFT LCD TV - What Is TFT LCD? N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ercservice.com/learning/what-is-tft-lcd.html>
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