Title: Characterisation of waste fluorescent lamps to investigate their potential recovery in Turkey

Authors: Sezen Coskun; Gokhan Civelekoglu

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

Abstract: The investigations in this study were performed on two types of waste linear (tubular) T8 and T12 lamps, which are mostly used in Turkey. Total average value of the mercury mass for the T8 and T12 lamps were calculated to be about 6 mg and 12 mg per lamp, respectively. SEM-EDX elemental analysis showed that approximately 52% of hosphor powders of waste T8 and T12 lamps was measured as calcium (Ca) by weight. ICP-OES analysis showed that some rare earth elements were traced in the T8 and T12 phosphor powders. These waste lamps could be considered as an ore of secondary raw materials. The use of recycled metals in lamp production instead of virgin metals may have positive environmental impacts through reduced energy use and reduced pollution related to the mining of the virgin source in Turkey.

Keywords: fluorescent lamps; mercury; metal recovery; rare earths; waste characterisation; Turkey; metal recycling; environmental impact; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2014.061004

International Journal of Global Warming, 2014 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.140 - 148

Received: 08 Oct 2012
Accepted: 01 Feb 2013
Published online: 02 Jul 2014 *

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