1. Introduction
Technological advancements of these last
decades have led to high demand for strategic raw
materials, essential for the manufacturing of
electrical and electronic devices and to an increase of
e-waste generation. Modern electronic equipment can
contain more than 60 elements (Circular Economy &
Resource Efficiency Experts, 2012) some of which
contain harmful substances that require adequate
treatment before disposal. On the other hand e-waste
could represent a highly valuable source of raw
material, while this opportunity is nowadays being