The amount of waste LCDs dramatically increases along with their annually increasing usage amount. In LCDs complicated structure, they lack of recycling approaches in the display panel part while other components can be reused. In lieu of landfill and incineration, Environmental Protection Association have collaborated with ITRI on the development of LCDs panel recycling technologies. We have successfully not only separated but also reused the liquid crystal, indium, and glass from waste LCDs. With the distinguished technology and advantages of a completed industry chain in Taiwan, this project aims to create the valorized external recycling system of waste LCDs in association with e waste recycling companies, plastics material regenerators, panel manufacturers and module assemblers. The system can recycle currently commercial display devices, and also maximize their reuse profits. In this project, we recycled the liquid crystal from waste LCDs for 65-inch new high-level LCDs, and furthermore used the waste glass to fabricate highly efficient water-absorbing coasters. We collected 7.1 tons waste LCDs and disassembled them by the e-waste recycling company. The 6.5 kg liquid crystal mixtures were thereafter extracted from those display panels through our developed liquid crystal extraction technology. Combining with group separation, modification, and purification processes enable to produce 1.5 kg source materials for high-level LCDs. As collaborated with the LCD factory, we have successfully produced 200 pieces 65-inch new high-level LCDs from waste materials. On the other part of glass, we also employed our unique nanoporosification technology to generate 200 pieces highly efficient water absorbing coasters. This strategy can provide the recycling routes with economic benefits from waste LCDs to valorized products, not only increasing the profits but aslo decreasing the pollution.

LCD panel, External recycling, High-end display