As the demand for electronic devices continues to grow, the number of discarded computers and phones is also on the rise. Unfortunately, only around 17.4% of this waste is currently being recycled, leaving the rest to be disposed of in landfills or incinerated. This lack of proper recycling is contributing to the growing problem of electronic waste and its harmful impact on the environment.
In traditional urban mining, a leaching agent is used to wash metals from used chips or processors. The gold is then extracted from the solution created during the process. This method is commonly used to extract valuable metals from electronic waste.
Despite its common use, the traditional urban mining process is considered inefficient and environmentally harmful. The process is complex and generates polluting acid by-products, leading to environmental damage.
According to a recent paper published in the journal Science Advances, a team of scientists has developed a composite material that can extract gold more efficiently and quickly from the liquid solution created by the leaching process. This breakthrough could significantly improve the traditional urban mining process by reducing its complexity and minimizing the environmental impact caused by acid by-products.
