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This is a discovery that opens new doors in the world of recycling. The finding was made by the ETH Zurich group, a highly prestigious public university founded in 1854.
A scientific discovery promises to change the way the world recovers gold, offering a safer and more efficient alternative that could transform entire industries.
A group of scientists in Switzerland made an unprecedented discovery: they recovered 22-karat gold from common electronic waste. Most importantly, it was achieved without harming the environment.
From recycling to gold: the technique that recovers valuable minerals from electronic devices
The first results released by the researchers show surprising figures: the material obtained exceeds 99% purity, a standard that is difficult to achieve even with traditional refining methods.
Another discovery made in Australia has generated interest in sectors related to the recycling method used to obtain gold from electronic components. The key lies in a process that makes it possible to obtain highly pure gold without resorting to harmful chemicals that usually damage the environment.
Cutting-edge strategies for more efficient and sustainable gold extraction
The interdisciplinary team at Flinders University in Australia developed a procedure that replaces the use of cyanide, one of the most criticized compounds because of its toxicity, with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a substance commonly used in water disinfection.
In addition to this finding, a group of ETH Zurich researchers in Switzerland developed an innovative process that makes it possible to extract 22-karat gold from discarded electronic components.
However, the real breakthrough lies in the use of a sulfur polymer capable of selectively binding to dissolved gold. After a controlled heating or chemical treatment process, the precious metal is released in pure form and the polymer can be reused, making the method a sustainable and economical option.
What impact will it have on employment and the economy?
Among its main benefits are:
This breakthrough not only opens the door to safer recycling of electronic components, but also raises a paradigm shift in mining. By doing away with cyanide, the new process reduces environmental and health risks, providing solutions aligned with the circular economy.
In addition, the innovation is expected to generate new job opportunities in sectors such as technological waste management, chemical engineering, and industrial sustainability.