Latest news with #goldExtraction
Sustainability Times
20 hours ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Toxin-Free Gold Rush Begins': Breakthrough Method Extracts Precious Metals From Ore and E-Waste Without Using Deadly Chemicals
IN A NUTSHELL 🌟 Researchers at Flinders University have developed a toxin-free method for gold extraction from ore and electronic waste. have developed a toxin-free method for gold extraction from ore and electronic waste. ♻️ The innovative method uses trichloroisocyanuric acid to dissolve gold, offering a safer alternative to traditional toxic chemicals. to dissolve gold, offering a safer alternative to traditional toxic chemicals. 🌍 By collaborating internationally, the team aims to tackle the growing issue of e-waste and support a circular economy. and support a circular economy. 🔬 The findings, published in Nature Sustainability, highlight a significant step towards sustainable resource management and environmental protection. Gold has long been a prized element, not just for its beauty and rarity, but for its critical role in various industries such as electronics, medicine, and aerospace. As the demand for gold continues to rise, traditional extraction methods have posed significant environmental and health risks due to their reliance on toxic chemicals. However, a groundbreaking study by researchers at Flinders University in Australia promises to revolutionize the way we recover gold. By introducing a toxin-free method that efficiently extracts gold from both ore and e-waste, this innovative approach could significantly reduce the ecological footprint of gold mining. The Innovative Gold Recovery Method The pursuit of sustainable gold extraction has led researchers to develop a novel method that stands in stark contrast to traditional techniques. Historically, gold extraction has depended on toxic substances like cyanide and mercury. These chemicals, while effective, have caused widespread environmental harm, contaminating water sources and posing severe health risks to both humans and wildlife. The new method developed by the interdisciplinary team at Flinders University utilizes a harmless compound known as trichloroisocyanuric acid, commonly used in water treatment processes. When activated by saltwater, this compound dissolves gold effectively, offering a much safer alternative to conventional methods. The dissolved gold is then selectively captured by a specialized sulfur-rich polymer, which the team designed specifically for this purpose. This polymer not only binds the gold but also allows for its recovery, ensuring that the polymer can be recycled and reused in future extraction processes. This sustainable approach is further enhanced by the use of UV light to create the polymer, minimizing the environmental impact of gold recovery. 'Staggering 20% recycled cathode material goal': Panasonic's bold leap towards the greenest lithium EV batteries ever created Sustainable Solution to Tackle E-Waste Electronic waste, or e-waste, is an ever-growing problem worldwide, with millions of tons generated each year. These discarded electronics contain valuable metals like gold, but traditional recycling efforts have struggled to keep pace with the increasing volume. The innovative method developed by the Flinders University team offers a promising solution to this challenge. By partnering with experts in the US and Peru, the researchers have tested their method on various types of electronic waste, including CPU units and RAM cards. This collaboration aims to provide safer alternatives for small-scale miners who often rely on mercury for gold extraction. The new method not only addresses the environmental concerns associated with traditional mining but also supports a circular economy by enabling the recovery and reuse of valuable metals from e-waste. The findings, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, highlight the potential of this technique to transform waste management and resource utilization on a global scale. 'Soundwaves Turn Trash to Power': Revolutionary Tech Revives Dead Fuel Cells Into Clean Energy Gold Using Sonic Force Collaborative Efforts and Global Impact The success of the Flinders University study is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary and international collaboration. By combining expertise from various fields and regions, the team has developed a method that could set a new standard for gold recovery worldwide. The partnership with experts from different countries not only validates the effectiveness of the method on a global scale but also paves the way for its adoption in diverse mining and recycling contexts. The implications of this research extend beyond gold recovery. By demonstrating a viable, toxin-free extraction method, the study could inspire similar innovations for other metals and materials. As the world grapples with the challenges of resource scarcity and environmental degradation, such breakthroughs are crucial for building a more sustainable and resilient future. Porsche Will Crush Its Old EVs to Give Birth to Faster, Greener Monsters Than Ever Before Future Directions and Potential Challenges While the new gold extraction method holds great promise, several challenges remain. Scaling up the process for widespread industrial use will require further research and development. Ensuring the economic viability of the method is also essential for its adoption by industries and small-scale miners worldwide. Additionally, navigating the regulatory landscape and addressing potential logistical issues will be critical for the successful implementation of this technology. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of the method are undeniable. By reducing the environmental impact of gold mining and promoting the efficient recycling of e-waste, this innovation could play a significant role in achieving global sustainability goals. As researchers continue to refine and expand upon their findings, the question remains: how will industries and governments respond to this opportunity to revolutionize gold recovery and resource management? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (27)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Your outdated tech might be a ‘goldmine'
In 2025, it's not uncommon for a typical household to have a drawer overflowing with discarded phones and cables. But this graveyard of circuitry isn't just a static memorial to past tech trends. For those willing to put in the effort, each of those old iPhones and micro USB cables still contains a small amount of valuable metals and minerals—including gold. Researchers estimate that a single printed circuit board can contain around 200–900 mg of gold per kilogram. The actual extraction of those precious metals from discarded tech is a labor-intensive process. Historically, it has often required the use of highly toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury, which can be harmful both to the individuals doing the extraction and to the environment. But, researchers at Flinders University in Australia now say they've developed a new method of gold extraction and recycling that is far less hazardous and may have a lower environmental impact if scaled for production. By using a leaching reagent derived from trichloroisocyanuric acid—a sustainable compound commonly used in water disinfection—they were able to dissolve and extract gold without relying on dangerous chemicals. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature Sustainability this week, demonstrate they could use their process to extract gold from e-waste, as well as used ore. 'Overall, this work provides a viable approach to achieve greener gold production from both primary and secondary resources, improving the sustainability of the gold supply,' they write in the paper. Gold has captured human attention for millennia. It backed the currency of empires, adorned countless pieces of royal jewelry, and has come to the rescue in root canals. Today, the coveted element is widely used in electronics, valued for its natural electrical conductivity, durability, and high resistance to corrosion. As a result, small amounts of gold are likely present in most of the devices found on a typical office worker's desk. And while tech companies have taken steps to extract and recycle that gold for years, much of it still ends up in landfills. The United Nations estimates that the world produced around 62 million tons of e-waste in 2022—a figure that's up 82 percent from 2010. Contamination from toxic substances used to strip gold from devices isn't the only concern. The industrial leaching process typically requires vast quantities of water, further compounding its environmental impact. Runoff from those facilities can also make their way into food supplies or local wildlife. The Flinders University researchers took a different approach. First, they developed a process using the trichloroisocyanuric acid that, when activated by salt water, effectively dissolved gold without the need for toxic substances. Next, they bound the dissolved gold to a new sulfur-rich polymer they designed themselves. The polymer was engineered to serve as a vehicle for selectively capturing gold, even in the presence of many other metals. Once the gold was extracted, the polymer could 'unmake' itself, reverting to its monomer state and leaving the gold behind. That fully separated gold could then be recycled and used again in new products. 'The aim is to provide effective gold recovery methods that support the many uses of gold, while lessening the impact on the environment and human health,' Flinders University professor and paper authorJustin Chalker said in a statement. In testing, the researchers demonstrated that their process could extract gold not only from e-waste, but also from ore concentrates and scientific waste streams. Although, the sheer volume of global e-waste makes it the most obvious candidate to benefit from this method. The researchers say they are currently working with mining and e-waste recycling companies to test the process on a larger scale. 'We dived into a mound of e-waste and climbed out with a block of gold!' Flinders University research associate and paper co-author Harshal Patel said in a statement. 'I hope this research inspires impactful solutions to pressing global challenges.' That said, everyday electronics consumers don't need to wait for this new method to scale up in order to benefit from e-waste recycling. Most major cities have certified e-waste recycling centers that accept large quantities of discarded electronics. Local scrap yards, as well as some private companies, will also pay a small amount for scrapped devices—especially those containing relatively high amounts of gold, silver, or copper. Large nonprofits like Goodwill also offer electronics recycling services. Many of these organizations handle the hard work of separating components from used devices, then sell the individual parts to industrial recyclers.
