Dispozitivul electronic pe care îl aruncăm cu toții conține 450 de miligrame de aur pur, de 22 de carate • Newsweek România

Electronic waste recycling presents an economic opportunity to recover valuable metals, including gold, which is often discarded. Each ton of e-waste can yield up to 400 grams of gold, significantly more than traditional mining. However, around 80% of e-waste is not properly recycled, leading to hazardous extraction methods. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an eco-friendly technique using dairy proteins to selectively extract gold from electronic components. This method not only promotes sustainability but is also economically viable. The goal is to reduce reliance on mining and establish a robust recycling industry that can recover various valuable metals, contributing to economic autonomy.