Investigation topic 1: Endangered elements in the periodic table
Today’s chemists are involved in many branches of chemistry, covering all 118 elements in the periodic table. Some of these elements are now considered to be critical and endangered, particularly due to the prevalence of modern technologies that rely on many different scarce minerals. It has been estimated that 44 elements will soon be, or are already, facing supply limitations, making a future of continuing technological advancement uncertain.
Questions that may be explored in this investigation include:
· How are precious metals from electronic waste (e-waste) recycled and what are the environmental and economic benefits of these recovery processes?
Precious metals in e-waste
$10bn of precious metals dumped each year in electronic waste, says UN
Carrington, D. (2020, July 2). $10bn of precious metals dumped each year in electronic waste, says UN. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/02/10bn-precious-metals-dumped-each-year-electronic-waste-un-toxic-e-waste-polluting
Electronic waste kept out of landfill in the hundreds of tonnes thanks to this Queensland charity
Electronic waste kept out of landfill in the hundreds of tonnes thanks to this Queensland charity - ABC News. (2023, May 15). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-16/gold-coast-ewaste-recycling-endeavour-foundation/102193282
Tyrrell, J. (2022, December 15). Turning sim cards into gold - TechHQ. TechHQ; TechHQ. https://techhq.com/2022/12/turning-sim-cards-into-gold/
Recyclers and recycling innovations of e-waste
This company recycles gold from electronic waste
Masterson, V. (2021, April). How start-up Mint Innovation is mining scrap gadgets for gold. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/mint-innovation-gold-electronic-waste/
E-waste: chemical processing without heat may offer efficient method of recovering metals from end-of-life products. (2022, October 12). Environment. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/e-waste-chemical-processing-without-heat-may-offer-efficient-method-recovering-metals-end-life-2022-10-12_en
THE CURIOUS NEW METHODS OF E-WASTE RECYCLING
As demand for eco-friendly, carbon-neutral technologies intensifies, researchers, scientists and private companies are exploring sustainable recycling options, among which is the use of beneficial bacteria and fungi in a process dubbed Bioleaching.
Koigi, B. (2023, February 6). The curious new methods of e-waste recycling. FairPlanet; FairPlanet. https://www.fairplanet.org/story/electronic-waste-recycling-bacteria/
Porphyrin May Provide Efficient, Cost-Effective Way to Reclaim Gold from E-Waste
gold – Sustainable Electronics Initiative. (2020, June 29). Illinois.edu. https://sustainable-electronics.istc.illinois.edu/tag/gold/
Recycling rare earth elements is hard. Science is trying to make it easier
Using copper salts to pull the rare earth metals from discarded magnets.
How science could make recycling rare earth elements easier. (2023, January 20). Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/recycling-rare-earth-elements-hard-new-methods
Academic literature on new e-waste recycling methods
Emerging technologies for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from the end-of-life electronic wastes: a review on progress, challenges, and perspectives
This paper summarises the recent progress for the recovery of REEs using various emerging technologies such as bioleaching, biosorption, cryo-milling, electrochemical processes and nanomaterials, siderophores, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and supercritical CO2. The challenges facing this recovery are discussed comprehensively and some possible improvements are presented.
Ambaye, Vaccari, M., Castro, F. D., Prasad, S., & Rtimi, S. (2020). Emerging technologies for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from the end-of-life electronic wastes: a review on progress, challenges, and perspectives. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 27(29), 36052–36074. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09630-2
Current technologies for recovery of metals from industrial wastes: An overview
Krishnan, S., Nor Najihah Zulkapli, Hesam Kamyab, Shazwin Mat Taib, Mohd, Zaiton Abdul Majid, Sumate Chaiprapat, Iwao Kenzo, Ichikawa, Y., Mohd Nasrullah, Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan, & Othman, N. (2021). Current technologies for recovery of metals from industrial wastes: An overview. 22, 101525–101525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101525
Environmental and economic problems with e-waste
An overview of the problem
UN Environment Programme. (2019). From Waste to Wealth: Harnessing the Circular Economy [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbc6W4lJAcc
Consumption rates of electrical and electronic equipment have grown drastically in the last few decades causing an inevitable increase in the amount of e-waste generated. It means that manufacturers are responsible for the environmental impact of their products
- The aim of this thought paper is to present complementary solutions and concepts to propel e-waste collection rates in line with EPR-based regulation, whilst delving into the perceived need for an international regime around EPR to assist with harmonization efforts.
- This paper presents potential elements of an international regime, including baseline international standards, guidance and harmonized definitions, tracing modalities, and databases and twinning initiatives
- It outlines the challenges facing EPR globally.
Global and complementary actions for electronics extended producer responsibility Copyright and publication information. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2023, from https://api.globalewaste.org/publications/file/287/Global-and-complementary-actions-for-electronics-extended-producer-responsibility.pdf
Environmental and economic advantages of precious metal recovery processes
Mongabay. (2022). Can the technology-critical element supply chain become sustainable? | Mongabay Explains [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ced365zu7Wg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fmhs-vic-au.libapps.com%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt
A short video on
World economic forum's video on the benefits of sustainable e-waste management
LinkedIn. (2023). Linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/world-economic-forum_only-a-fifth-of-e-waste-is-ever-recycled-activity-6961199191062720512-nwyG/?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_dt_web&utm_campaign=copy
