Cornell University researchers have developed an innovative, sustainable method for recycling electronic waste (e-waste) by extracting gold and utilizing it as a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable organic materials. This groundbreaking process addresses the growing e-waste crisis, with around 50 million tons generated annually and only 20% currently recycled. The team, led by Amin Zadehnazari and Alireza Abbaspourrad, created two vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) that effectively capture gold while minimizing the co-extraction of other metals like nickel and copper. One framework achieved a remarkable 99.9% gold recovery rate.
Traditional gold recovery methods often involve harmful chemicals, such as cyanide, which pose serious environmental risks. In contrast, Zadehnazari’s approach employs a non-toxic chemical adsorption technique. The TTF-COF variant showed excellent durability and effectiveness in gold adsorption and CO2 conversion at ambient conditions. With e-waste projected to reach 80 million metric tons by 2030, this method not only provides a promising solution for recovering precious metals from electronic devices but also contributes to environmental conservation by reducing carbon emissions and waste disposal needs. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
