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Selective recovery of precious metals through photocatalysis

Author

Listed:
  • Yao Chen

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Mengjiao Xu

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Jieya Wen

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Yu Wan

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Qingfei Zhao

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Xia Cao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yong Ding

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Zhong Lin Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Hexing Li

    (Shanghai Normal University
    Shanghai University of Electric Power)

  • Zhenfeng Bian

    (Shanghai Normal University)

Abstract

Precious metals such as gold and platinum are valued materials for a variety of important applications, but their scarcity poses a risk of supply disruption. Recycling precious metals from waste provides a promising solution; however, conventional metallurgical methods bear high environmental costs and energy consumption. Here, we report a photocatalytic process that enables one to selectively retrieve seven precious metals—silver (Ag), gold (Au), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru) and iridium (Ir)—from waste circuit boards, ternary automotive catalysts and ores. The whole process does not involve strong acids or bases or toxic cyanide, but needs only light and photocatalysts such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). More than 99% of the targeted elements in the waste sources can be dissolved and the precious metals recovered after a simple reducing reaction that shows a high purity (≥98%). By demonstrating success at the kilogram scale and showing that the catalysts can be reused more than 100 times, we suggest that this approach might be industry compatible. This research opens up a new path in the development of sustainable technologies for recycling the Earth’s resources and contributing to a circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao Chen & Mengjiao Xu & Jieya Wen & Yu Wan & Qingfei Zhao & Xia Cao & Yong Ding & Zhong Lin Wang & Hexing Li & Zhenfeng Bian, 2021. "Selective recovery of precious metals through photocatalysis," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(7), pages 618-626, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1038_s41893-021-00697-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00697-4
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Huang Wu & Yu Wang & Chun Tang & Leighton O. Jones & Bo Song & Xiao-Yang Chen & Long Zhang & Yong Wu & Charlotte L. Stern & George C. Schatz & Wenqi Liu & J. Fraser Stoddart, 2023. "High-efficiency gold recovery by additive-induced supramolecular polymerization of β-cyclodextrin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Ritwick Ghosh & Adrien Baut & Giorgio Belleri & Michael Kappl & Hans-Jürgen Butt & Thomas M. Schutzius, 2023. "Photocatalytically reactive surfaces for simultaneous water harvesting and treatment," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1663-1672, December.
    3. Xiaowei Shi & Chao Dai & Xin Wang & Jiayue Hu & Junying Zhang & Lingxia Zheng & Liang Mao & Huajun Zheng & Mingshan Zhu, 2022. "Protruding Pt single-sites on hexagonal ZnIn2S4 to accelerate photocatalytic hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Jie Luo & Xiao Luo & Mo Xie & Hao-Zhen Li & Haiyan Duan & Hou-Gan Zhou & Rong-Jia Wei & Guo-Hong Ning & Dan Li, 2022. "Selective and rapid extraction of trace amount of gold from complex liquids with silver(I)-organic frameworks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Yusen Su & Andy Berbille & Xiao-Fen Li & Jinyang Zhang & MohammadJavad PourhosseiniAsl & Huifan Li & Zhanqi Liu & Shunning Li & Jianbo Liu & Laipan Zhu & Zhong Lin Wang, 2024. "Reduction of precious metal ions in aqueous solutions by contact-electro-catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Yan Guo & Bowen Zhu & Chuyang Y. Tang & Qixin Zhou & Yongfa Zhu, 2024. "Photogenerated outer electric field induced electrophoresis of organic nanocrystals for effective solid-solid photocatalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Fei Li & Jiuyi Zhu & Pengzhan Sun & Mingrui Zhang & Zhenqing Li & Dingxin Xu & Xinyu Gong & Xiaolong Zou & A. K. Geim & Yang Su & Hui-Ming Cheng, 2022. "Highly efficient and selective extraction of gold by reduced graphene oxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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