title: Recovery of gold from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) using ammonium persulfate.
abstract: This paper presents a novel methodology to recover gold from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) using ammonium persulfate ((NH4)2S2O8). Gold was recovered as a fine coating using substrate oxidation without shredding or grinding process. The WEEE sample was characterized giving values of Au: 1.05g/kg, Fe: 86.00g/kg, Ni: 73.64g/kg, Cu: 26.65g/kg. The effect of (NH4)2S2O8concentration (0.22-1.10M), oxygen (0.0-1.4L/min) and L/S ratio (10-30mL/g) on the main responses (substrate oxidation and Au recovery) was investigated implementing response surface methodology with numerical optimization. A quadratic model was developed and quantities greater than 98% of Au were recovered. The findings presented suggest that, optimized quantities of ammonium persulfate in aqueous highly oxygenated media could be used to extract superficial gold from WEEE.
authors: GIPIMME Research Group, Department of Materials Engineering, University of Antioquia, CL 67 53-108, Medellin, Colombia; Ingeniería, Suministros y Montajes S.A.S, INSUMON S.A.S, CL 36 36-9, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: andreaalzatenaranjo@gmail.com.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Alzate
authors: GIPIMME Research Group, Department of Materials Engineering, University of Antioquia, CL 67 53-108, Medellin, Colombia.
authors: Maria Esperanza
authors: ME
authors: López
authors: GIPIMME Research Group, Department of Materials Engineering, University of Antioquia, CL 67 53-108, Medellin, Colombia.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Serna
mesh_terms: D000645:Ammonium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry*; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D059029:Electronic Waste; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D059027:Recycling
chemical_list: C031276:ammonium peroxydisulfate; D006046:Gold; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate
keywords: Ammonium persulfate; Gold recovery; Recycling; Response surface methodology; Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)