Most of the old laptops and the phone are in the room. Some of these parts are simply recycled or recycled. As a result, technical waste is increasing every year. However, a new method of Professor Justin M Chakler and his colleagues in Australia's Flinders University at the University of Australia and his colleagues could change this situation. They have discovered a fancy method of collecting gold from the old device.
In 2022, the amount of electronic waste (e-west) produced by the global world is about 12 million tonnes, which can complete more than 1 million garbage trucks. It has increased by 12 percent compared to 20 and the amount is expected to reach 12 million tonnes by 20.
This e-west contains old laptops, mobile phones, which contain valuable metals with gold. However, less than one-fourth of it is properly collected and recycled.
In a new study published in the Nature Sustainability Magazine, they said that their methods could help collect gold in safe ways not only from e-west but also from small gold mines (Artizanal mining). This method can provide environmentally friendly options instead of mercury and cyanide that is harmful to health.
Gold has been playing an important role in human life for ages. It is also essential in currency, ornaments, arts to modern electronics, chemical production and space technology. However, there is a huge pressure on the environment to meet the demand for this gold.
Large -scale miners are used to poisoning poisoning cyanide to collect gold, which is dangerous for wild animals and the environment. On the other hand, small -scale mines are widely used in mercury – which is the largest mercury source in the world. This mercury is not only the environment, but also for the health of the miners.
For these reasons, Chakler and his team have developed a new chemical system, where gold is used to transform into a soluble form of water, which is commonly used in cleaning water germs or swimming pools. It makes gold soluble when active with salt water.
Then they created a special polymer absorber to collect gold from this solution, which was created from mineral sulfur. It is an unnecessary byborn in the petroleum industry. This polymer is capable of tie gold separately from many metals at a low cost.
They have actually applied to the old computer's circuit board, mineral ore and scientific waste. Above all, they have also created a recycling method through which the same polymer and chemical can be used repeatedly.
Researchers have invented a chemical process through which polymers can be created using light and it can be re -broken for recycling. It can be recovered and re -new polymers that are restored – which is a great example of the circular economy.
There are many challenges in the path of implementing this technology – especially to ensure production, cost, recycling and acceptance in the industry. However, the initial results are encouraging.
The long -term goal of the researchers is to create an effective and safe method of collecting gold without the use of mercury and cyanide. Through this, they want to build an economically profitable and environmentally friendly alternative system for small -scale minorities.
On the other hand, if this method is widely used to collect gold from the e-West, the dependence on mining will initially reduce and reduce environmental damage.
References: Science alert
