2025 It is not uncommon for a regular household to have drawers, overflowing with thrown phones and cables. However, this circuit cemetery is not just a static memorial for previous technical trends. For those who want to make efforts, each of those old iPhone and Micro USB cables still have a small amount of valuable metals and minerals, including gold. Investigators’ calculation that one of the printed chain panels may contain about 200-900 mg of gold per kilogram.
The actual extraction of these precious metals from the discarded technology is a lot of labor. Historically, very toxic chemicals such as cyanide and mercury, which can damage both extractional and the environment. However, researchers at Australian Fllinders University say they have developed a new method of gold extraction and processing, which is much less dangerous and can have less environmental impact if manufactured. Using a reagent derived from trichlorosocyanuric acid, a sustainable compound commonly used in disinfecting water, were able to dissolve and extract gold without relying on hazardous chemicals.
Investigators who published their conclusions in the magazine Nature sustainability Show this week to use their gold to extract their process from e-tlies, as well as ores.
“In general, this work is a promising approach to greener gold production from both primary and secondary resources, improving the sustainability of gold supply,” they wrote on paper.
Why is the gold in the electronics
Gold attracted man’s attention to millennia. It supported the currency of the empire, adorned many pieces of royal jewelry and was rescued in the root canals. Today, the coveted element is widely used in electronics, valued for its natural electrical conductivity, durability and high corrosion resistance. As a result, most devices on a typical office worker are likely to have small amounts of gold. And while technology companies have taken steps to extract and recycle that gold for many years, most of it is still ends in landfills. The United Nations estimated that in 2022 The world produced about 62 million tonnes of e-seller-seal, which increased by 82 percent since 2010.
Contamination of toxic substances used to remove devices to remove gold is not the only concern. The industrial washes process usually requires a huge amount of water, further increasing its environmental impact. Leakage from those premises can also enter food supply or local wildlife.
Researchers at Flinders University took a different approach. First they created the process using trichlorisocyanuriic acid, which, when activated in salt water, effectively dissolved gold and does not require toxic substances. Then they tied the melted gold to the new sulfur rich polymer, which they themselves designed. The polymer was designed as a vehicle for selectively capturing gold, even with many other metals. After the gold was pulled out, the polymer could “get rid of” himself, returning to his monomer’s status and leaving gold. That completely separated gold can then be recycled and re -used in new products.
“The goal is to provide effective gold recovery methods that support many gold use, while reducing the environmental and human health impact,” said Chalker, a professor and paper author of the University of Flinders.
While testing, researchers have shown that their process can extract gold not only from e-cords, but also from ore concentrates and scientific waste flows. Although this method is the most obvious candidate for the global existence of the E-A-Recember. Researchers say they are currently working with mining and e-tlie recycling companies to check the process to a larger scale.
“We plunged to the E-A-Time mound and got out of the gold block!” In his report, Harshal Patel, a research fellow at Flinders University and co -author of paper, said. “I hope this study inspires influential solutions related to global challenges.”
What to do with all that e-dime
However, everyday electronics users do not have to wait for this new way to expand to benefit the E-Recycling. Many major cities have certified electronic waste recycling centers that accept large quantities thrown electronics.
Local fire yards, as well as some private companies, will also pay a small amount for the devices they can, especially those with relatively large amounts of gold, silver or copper. Large non -profit organizations such as Goodwill also offer electronic recycling services. Many of these organizations manage hard work to distinguish between components from used devices, then sell individual parts to industrial processors.