A team of Australian researchers has developed an eco-friendly technique to extract gold from used electronic devices. The method replaces toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide with safe, recyclable substances commonly used in swimming pool maintenance and oil refining. Every mobile phone contains trace amounts of gold in its circuit board. The electronics industry depends on the metal for its excellent conductivity but sourcing it through traditional mining methods carries significant environmental costs. Extracting one ounce of gold requires processing up to 30 tons of rock, while artisanal miners often rely on mercury, creating long-term damage to waterways and human health.
How the new method works
The new process uses trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a swimming pool disinfectant, to dissolve gold from crushed circuit boards in salty water. A sulphur-based polymer made from refinery waste then selectively captures the gold. Heating the polymer releases 99 %-pure gold and allows it to be reused. All inputs can be recycled on-site, significantly cutting down on chemical waste.
Proven in lab tests
Lab tests show the method works not only on laptops and mobile phones but also on mixed-metal waste and low-grade ore. Researchers claim the system reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % compared to conventional gold recovery, mainly by avoiding high-temperature smelting.
Via: Eladelantado.com
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