Researchers have developed an eco-friendly method to extract pure gold from electronic waste and ore using common pool disinfectant chemicals, saltwater, and sunlight. This innovative process avoids toxic substances like cyanide and mercury, traditionally used in gold mining, which pose serious environmental and health risks. The new technique employs a recyclable polymer that selectively binds to dissolved gold, allowing recovery and reuse of both the gold and polymer.Electronic waste, a rapidly growing global waste stream, contains valuable metals like gold, but is challenging to recycle safely due to toxic components. The team’s approach offers a greener alternative for both mining and urban recycling by dissolving gold using trichloroisocyanuric acid—a chemical used in water disinfection—activated by saltwater. Gold is then captured by a sulfur-rich polymer created via a light-driven process, making the entire system sustainable and scalable.This breakthrough could reduce mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining, which affects millions worldwide, and improve gold recovery from complex waste materials like circuit boards. The researchers aim to collaborate with industry partners to scale up this technology, potentially transforming gold extraction into a safer, more sustainable process that benefits both the environment and public health.RESEARCH PAPER 📄Maximilian Mann et al, “Sustainable gold extraction from ore and electronic waste.”, Nature Sustainability (2025)
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