Gold recovery from shredder light fraction of E-waste recycling plant by flotation-ammonium thiosulfate leaching

Waste Management
Sanghee JeonNaoki Hiroyoshi

Abstract

This paper describes the recovery of gold (Au) from shredder light fraction (SLF) of a recycling plant by flotation and leaching. SLF is typically sent to landfills as waste, but it still contains substantial amounts of Au, and other metals like Cu and Fe. The SLF sample used in this study contains 0.003% of Au, 12% of Cu, and 10% of Fe. Flotation results showed that over 99% of Au and 50% of combustibles were recovered in froth while most of the base metals were recovered in tailing. SEM-EDX of froth products indicates that Au floated via two mechanisms: (1) flotation of Au-plated plastic particles, and (2) agglomeration of fine Au particles together with plastic particles due to kerosene-induced hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions followed by the flotation of these agglomerated particles. Combustibles in froth/tailing were analyzed by ATR-FTIR, and the results showed that plastics in the froth were mostly sulfonated polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) while those in tailing were polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Contact angle measurements of plastic particles suggest that PS and ABS are more hydrophobic than PU and PET. Most of the base metals in the tailing had either bent or twi...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.