Canada Global (Web News) Scientists have developed a very effective method of extracting gold from electronic waste.
Researchers used protein sponges from waste during the cheese-making process to extract precious metals from e-waste. According to the researchers, this method is sustainable and commercially viable. In the study, scientists collected 450 mg of 22-carat gold from just 20 old computer motherboards. The energy cost of the process is 50 times less than the cost of mined gold. To extract the gold, scientists destroy all the natural properties of whey protein under acidic conditions at high temperatures to create a protein slurry that can be dried. A sponge was made by doing it.
The researchers then separated metal parts from 20 motherboards and soaked them in acid, then placed a protein fiber in the solution to attract gold ions. Other metals are also attracted to these fibers, but gold does this more effectively. The scientists heated the sponge to convert the gold ions into galls, which then melted into gold flakes.
