Recovery of precious metals from E-waste by membranes of nanocellulose and porous organic polymers (ReNaPOP)

The ever-growing production of electronic products generates large amounts of e-waste. In 2021, 57.4 million tons of e-waste were generated globally, equivalent to 7.3 kg per capita. Most of the world's e-waste is dumped or incinerated and only 20% is responsibly recycled. The UN reports that the value of gold, platinum, palladium and other precious metals in e-waste annually dumped exceeds 10 billion USD. Based on this background, the objective of the project is to develop membranes designed to extract precious metals from e-waste by effectively binding precious metal ions from water solutions with ultra-low concentration. The development of membranes for binding precious metals that are sustainable, inexpensive, efficient and potentially high yielding when integrated into e-waste recycling processes, will stimulate the growth of the recycling industry and the development of related technologies. It can help promote a circular economy and the sustainable use of resources.

Electronics