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Ces vieux objets électroniques contiennent de l'or 22 carats
Saviez-vous que certains vos anciens appareils électroniques, souvent jetés ou stockés dans un coin, renferment de l'or 22 carats ?
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Scientists Uncover Sustainable Methods to Extract Gold from E-Waste
Groundbreaking Innovations Promise Gold from Electronic Waste Recent scientific breakthroughs from Flinders University in Australia and ETH Zurich in Switzerland are poised to redefine electronic waste management, offering sustainable methods for extracting 22-carat gold from discarded devices. This development marks a significant shift from traditional, often hazardous, gold recovery processes. Researchers at Flinders University have pioneered a technique that replaces the use of cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, with trichloroisocyanuric acid. This acid, commonly used in water disinfection, is combined with a unique sulfur polymer. "Our polymer is designed to selectively bind to dissolved gold, allowing for its efficient separation from other materials," explained a lead researcher from Flinders University. Following heating or chemical treatment, the pure gold is liberated, and the polymer can be recycled for future use, making the process both environmentally friendly and economically viable. In a parallel effort, a team at ETH Zurich in Switzerland has also developed an innovative process capable of extracting 22-carat gold from electronic components that would otherwise be discarded. These combined advancements address the growing challenge of e-waste, which contains valuable metals but is often difficult and costly to process responsibly. The implications of these discoveries are far-reaching. Experts suggest that these methods could lead to a substantial reduction in electronic waste accumulating in landfills, alongside a more efficient and cleaner recovery of precious metals. Furthermore, the development and implementation of such technologies are expected to stimulate job creation within the recycling sector and significantly contribute to a more robust circular economy. While still in the research and development stages, these processes offer a hopeful vision for a future where resource extraction is both profitable and ecologically sound.
