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New Method Uses Common Disinfectant and Recyclable Polymer to Recover Gold from Electronic Waste Without Toxic Products Like Mercury and Cyanide.
In the search for more sustainable solutions, scientists at Flinders University in Australia have created an innovative method to recover gold from electronic waste without harming human health or the environment.
The discovery could represent a new way for safe, efficient, and ecological recycling of precious metals.
The Hidden Gold in Electronics
Electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, and chargers contain small amounts of gold. This metal is used for its high electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
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Although the amount in each device is minimal, the accumulated volume in millions of discarded devices makes electronic waste a valuable source of gold.
However, traditional extraction of this gold involves the use of toxic products such as mercury and cyanide. These substances cause severe environmental pollution and health risks.
This is especially problematic in artisanal mining activities, which are still common in developing countries.
A Cleaner Alternative
The new method developed by the Flinders University team eliminates the use of these toxic products. The scientists used trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), the same chemical used to disinfect swimming pools, mixed with saltwater. This solution can dissolve gold present in broken circuit boards and ores.
The next step involves a sulfur-rich polymer, which acts as a selective sponge for gold. This material captures the dissolved metal and allows it to be separated from the other components present in the solution.
According to Professor Justin Chalker, one of the research authors, the goal of the work is to provide an effective and safe alternative to traditional gold extraction. “We want to support the many uses of gold while reducing environmental and human health impacts,” he stated.
Reusable Polymer and Efficient Process
The difference of the new technique also lies in the reuse of the polymer. After collecting the gold, the polymer is chemically activated to release the metal and can then be reconstituted and used again. This reduces waste and makes the process even more sustainable.
Another important point is that the manufacture of this polymer is also ecological. The team uses ultraviolet light to initiate the necessary chemical reaction to create the material, avoiding the use of polluting substances.
Laboratory tests have been successful, and researchers have also experimented with the technique using real electronic waste. Computer parts and RAM memory sticks were successfully processed. Even waste from scientific experiments served as a basis for gold extraction using this method.
“We took a bunch of electronic waste and got a block of gold. It’s impressive! I hope this research leads to real solutions for urgent problems in the world,” said Harshal Patel, a research associate on the team.
Benefits for Small-Scale Mining
The new process is especially promising for small mining operations that currently rely on dangerous and polluting methods. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, artisanal and small-scale mining accounts for about 38% of global mercury emissions caused by humans.
With the TCCA-based technique, this type of mining can be transformed. By eliminating the use of mercury and cyanide, the process avoids health risks for workers and contamination of soils and waters.
Moreover, traditional mining requires steps such as drilling, blasting, and crushing, which consume large amounts of energy. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Positive Environmental Impact
The difference in environmental impact is significant. According to a report cited by the team, producing just one kilogram of gold through traditional methods releases over 20,000 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere.
In contrast, the new method avoids these heavy steps, reducing both energy use and carbon emissions. This represents a significant advance in the search for more sustainable processes in the mining industry.
Recovering gold from electronic waste, without the need for excavation or the use of fossil fuels, becomes a real alternative in light of the growing demand for this metal. It is increasingly used in electronics, medical equipment, and space technologies.
The team at Flinders University is now seeking partnerships to scale up the application. The goal is to adapt the process for treating large amounts of electronic waste, as well as testing it with ores extracted directly from mines.
Collaborations are already underway with researchers from Peru and the United States. The intention is to apply the method in real contexts of artisanal mining, where the use of mercury is still common.
In doing so, scientists hope to contribute to changing the gold extraction methods currently used, promoting cleaner and more accessible alternatives around the world.
The study was published in the journal Nature Sustainability and represents an important step towards sustainable mining. If adopted on a large scale, the method could help preserve the environment and protect the health of thousands of people involved in the gold extraction chain.
The study was published in the journal Nature Sustainability.
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