Recovering valuable materials from electronic waste

In the United States, researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to recover gold and reuse it

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By: Eleonora Lilli

Jan 6, 2025 at 4:11am ET

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Electronic waste is everywhere. It is a growing environmental problem, but it is also a resource. In the United States, researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to recover gold from discarded electronics and reuse it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Experts estimate that a tonne of e-waste contains at least ten times more gold than a tonne of conventional gold ore. However, the extraction of these metals has always required the use of environmentally harmful chemicals such as cyanide. This is why this new method deserves attention.

A greener alternative

The new approach to gold extraction does not use hazardous chemicals, but instead uses advanced materials known as vinyl bonded organic covalent structures (VCOFs). The researchers were able to selectively capture 99.9% of the gold from the circuit boards of discarded electronic devices, even avoiding contamination with other metals such as nickel or copper.

The environmental benefit is twofold: not only are CO2 emissions reduced, but after the gold is mined, VCOFs allow the recovered precious metal to act as a catalyst in the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful organic chemicals.

A sustainable circular economy

Turning discarded equipment into valuable resources means moving towards a sustainable circular economy, but research alone is not enough. While researchers continue to work and develop innovative solutions like this one, there is a need for supportive political intervention.

Resources and investment are needed to raise awareness of the importance of recycling electronic equipment. Will 2025 be a breakthrough year?