Recycling of discarded mobile printed circuit boards for extraction of gold and copper

This study investigates the recycling of mobile printed circuit boards through physical treatment followed by hydrometallurgical processing. Copper dissolution of the feed and processed fractions using different lixiviants were studied. Fluidization provided an effective separation of metallic values, and 88% carbon removal were observed. The ferrous fraction was separated using a low-intensity magnetic separator. Cu and Au dissolution in the treated sample was many folds higher compared to the feed sample. The acid consumption for the treated fraction is quite low compared to the feed sample 44-45 ml / g. It was found-75% extraction efficiency with a purity of-97% Cu was extracted using electrodeposition. Au was successfully precipitated from leach solution using urea, followed by sodium bisulfite. Finally, it can be concluded 4.1 g Au and 9 kg Cu can be recovered from 10 kg treated mobile printed circuit boards. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.