New IIT Madras technology processes 100 tonnes of e-waste a year

Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an indigenous pilot plant capable of processing 100 tonnes of electronic waste every year.

The facility, designed to treat 100 tonnes per annum of printed circuit boards (PCBs), has been set up at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchirapalli, according to an IIT Madras release issued on Sunday.

The plant processes bare printed circuit boards, one of the most hazardous and metal-rich components of electronic waste. PCBs contain significant quantities of copper, lead and tin—metals that can leach into soil and groundwater if e-waste is not handled properly, creating long-term environmental and public health risks.

Developed from laboratory-scale chemistry into a functional unit, the innovation demonstrates a zero-discharge, single-acid process for recovering metals from electronic waste. Researchers said the technology offers a scalable blueprint for metal recovery.

At a time when India is generating nearly five million metric tonnes of electronic waste annually, IIT Madras researchers have built and demonstrated a scalable, zero-discharge pilot plant capable of recovering valuable metals from discarded electronics without polluting soil, water or air.

The technology behind the pilot project emerged from an exploratory research project funded internally by IIT Madras.

Elaborating on the development, Professor S Pushpavanam, YBG Varma Chair Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “With India’s e-waste challenge accelerating, this pilot plant offers a ready-to-scale model for clean metal recovery. The work aligns with Make in India, the circular economy, and critical minerals security. It also provides a rare example of academic research translating into technology development.”

He said the unique aspects of the pilot plant, compared with existing technologies, include the use of a single acid, enabling a zero discharge process, being made completely by Indian firms based on research carried out at IIT Madras, and automated operations with high levels of safety integrated into the design.