Cornell researchers have developed an innovative method to extract gold from electronic waste and repurpose it as a catalyst for converting CO2 into organic materials, according to a news release. Led by postdoctoral researcher Amin Zadehnazari, the team created vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) that can selectively capture 99.9% of gold from circuit boards while minimizing the capture of other metals.
“We can then use the gold-loaded COFs to convert CO2 into useful chemicals,” Zadehnazari said. “By transforming CO2 into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”
This approach addresses two environmental challenges: e-waste management and CO2 conversion. With only 20% of 50 million tons of annual e-waste currently being recycled, and e-waste containing 10 times more gold than ore, this method offers significant potential. Unlike traditional gold recovery methods that use harmful chemicals like cyanide, this process uses chemical adsorption through specially designed VCOFs.
The tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) framework proved particularly effective due to its sulfur content, which has a natural affinity for gold. The framework maintained its efficiency through multiple reuses and successfully converted CO2 into organic matter under moderate conditions. The research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates a sustainable approach to both precious metal recovery and greenhouse gas reduction.
