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Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, have developed a new, sustainable gold extraction technique from electronic waste and ore, published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The method utilizes trichloroisocyanuric acid, a compound commonly used for water disinfection, which activates in saltwater to dissolve gold.
The interdisciplinary team, led by Professor Justin Chalker, demonstrated that this technique can recover high-purity gold from mixed-metal waste and trace gold in scientific waste streams, with the aim of reducing toxic waste associated with traditional gold mining methods that often use cyanide and mercury. Plans are underway for field trials with mining and recycling operations.
This innovative process not only aims to provide effective gold recovery but also seeks to lessen the environmental impact, as gold is essential in electronics and other industries. The Flinders team collaborated with international experts to validate the technique, especially in small-scale mining contexts that typically depend on harmful substances for amalgamating gold.
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