Extract Gold From Smartphone? Scientists Find A Safe Method

Extract gold from smartphone waste, it’s not just possible, it’s becoming essential. As our devices age and get replaced, they’re creating a mountain of electronic waste. In 2022 alone, global e-waste reached 62 million tonnes, marking an alarming 82% increase since 2010.

This growing pile of discarded electronics holds hidden value, especially in the form of precious metals like gold. Yet with less than 1% of these materials currently recovered, the urgency to recycle smarter and safer has never been greater.

By 2030, the number is projected to climb another 32%, reaching 82 million tonnes.
Discarded phones, tablets, servers, and gadgets are choking landfills and polluting the environment with toxic materials.

The Hidden Gold Inside Your Old Electronics

Much of this waste contains valuable elements like gold, silver, and rare earth metals.
However, less than 1% of these materials are currently recovered through recycling.

Most of it ends up lost or buried, even though your old smartphone may contain trace amounts of gold.
Until now, extracting it safely was nearly impossible without using harsh chemicals.

Breakthrough: A Safe Way to Extract Gold From Smartphone

Scientists have developed a clean and effective method to extract gold from electronic waste.
Published in Nature Sustainability, this technique uses eco-friendly chemicals and reusable materials to recover gold without harming the planet.

The method avoids mercury and cyanide, common in traditional gold mining and e-waste processing.
It’s not only safe—it’s scalable.

How the 3-Step Extraction Process Works

1. Dissolving Gold: The process begins with trichloroisocyanuric acid, a chemical used in water treatment, combined with a halide catalyst.
This breaks down gold from old electronics into a dissolved form.

2. Binding Gold: Next, scientists add a special polysulfide polymer.
This material binds only to gold, separating it from other metals and contaminants.

3. Recovering Gold: Finally, the polymer is either heated or broken down chemically.
This releases high-purity gold, and the polymer can be reused multiple times—making the process even greener.

Turning E-Waste Into Economic and Environmental Opportunity

This breakthrough comes at a critical time.
The amount of global e-waste is enough to fill 1.55 million large trucks circling the Earth.

By making gold recovery safe and efficient, this innovation could help turn e-waste into a sustainable resource.
It also reduces the need for destructive gold mining, which often harms ecosystems and communities.

What It Means for Industry and the Planet

Governments and businesses worldwide are now exploring ways to scale this process.
If widely adopted, it could help shift global recycling efforts from crisis mode to a circular economy model.

This isn’t just about recovering gold from old gadgets.
It’s about redefining waste as a source of value—and making recycling a smarter, cleaner part of our digital lives.

Before tossing your old smartphone, remember—it holds more than memories.
It could help reduce pollution, recover precious materials, and support a greener future.