Gold from waste: scientists invented a polymer with an unusual function
Researchers have introduced a new polymer that can mine gold from old motherboards and old devices. One of the main advantages of the method is that it is very cheap.
Scientists from Korea introduced a new tool that allows you to clean the trash and release gold from any other materials. The organic compound porphyrin helps them in this. When combined in a polymer, it attracts materials to itself.
Researchers subjected the polymer to various tests to find out which metals it works best with. It turned out that it is most effective when working with a small amount of precious metals, primarily with gold. According to preliminary findings, it can capture up to 10 times more gold than its counterparts.
To test this, the researchers took seven computer boards and placed them in a container with a substance for leaching metals. Then they added polymer, adjusted the solution and held it for several days. The polymer released gold to the bottom of the mixture.
Researchers note that the use of polymer is economically viable. It costs about $ 5 per gram and can catch gold, which will cost $ 64. In this case, the polymer can be reused, so it can cover its cost several times.
“[Fees] contain more precious metals than ore in mines,” the team noted, “But 80% of these materials go to landfill due to the fact that we do not have selective, cheap and highly productive procedures for their extraction. We want to fix it.”
Scientists from Korea introduced a new tool that allows you to clean the trash and release gold from any other materials. The organic compound porphyrin helps them in this. When combined in a polymer, it attracts materials to itself.
Researchers subjected the polymer to various tests to find out which metals it works best with. It turned out that it is most effective when working with a small amount of precious metals, primarily with gold. According to preliminary findings, it can capture up to 10 times more gold than its counterparts.
To test this, the researchers took seven computer boards and placed them in a container with a substance for leaching metals. Then they added polymer, adjusted the solution and held it for several days. The polymer released gold to the bottom of the mixture.
Researchers note that the use of polymer is economically viable. It costs about $ 5 per gram and can catch gold, which will cost $ 64. In this case, the polymer can be reused, so it can cover its cost several times.
“[Fees] contain more precious metals than ore in mines,” the team noted, “But 80% of these materials go to landfill due to the fact that we do not have selective, cheap and highly productive procedures for their extraction. We want to fix it.”
