Back to results
US 9,238,850 B2Granted
Sustainable process for reclaiming precious metals and base metals from e-waste
AssigneeAdvanced Technology Materials, Inc.
InventorsMichael B. Korzenski, Ping Jiang, James Norman, John Warner, Laura Ingalls, Dinakar Gnanamgari, Fred Strickler, Ted Mendum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Processes for recycling electronic components removed from printed wire boards, whereby precious metals and base metals are extracted from the electronic components using environmentally friendly compositions. At least gold, silver and copper ions can be extracted from the electronic components and reduced to their respective metals using the processes and compositions described herein.
Claims20
A method of removing more than one metal from e-waste, said method comprising:
- (a) contacting the e-waste with a first metal digestion composition to form a first extraction liquid and a first extraction solid;
- (b) separating the first extraction solid from the first extraction liquid;
- (c) contacting the first extraction solid with a second metal digestion composition to form a second extraction liquid and a second extraction solid;
- (d) separating the second extraction solid from the second extraction liquid, wherein the second extraction liquid comprises gold ions;
- and
- (e) contacting the first extraction liquid with an additive to separate silver ions from copper ions,
- wherein the first and second metal digestion compositions are devoid of nitric acid and cyanide-containing compounds, and wherein the additive is a pH adjusting agent wherein the pH of the first extraction liquid is raised to a pH in a range from 6 to 12.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.