Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Whey-based innovation makes extracting gold from e-waste lucrative and sustainable

Whey, post-cheese-making liquid, turns gold saviour in innovative e-waste recovery.

Whey-based innovation makes extracting gold from e-waste lucrative and sustainable

Gold, a revered metal throughout history, is not only a symbol of wealth but also a crucial component in various industries such as electronics, aerospace, medicine, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.

However, with gold being a non-renewable resource, its increasing value poses challenges. In a groundbreaking study, researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have introduced a sustainable and cost-effective method for selectively extracting gold from electronic waste (e-waste), turning an unexpected food industry byproduct into a key player in this process.


The unexpected hero in this gold recovery saga is whey, the liquid part of milk left after cheese-making. Led by corresponding author Raffaele Mezzenga, the researchers transformed whey into a matrix of protein amyloid fibrils, creating an adsorbent that selectively captures gold from e-waste.

What's particularly remarkable is the use of a food industry byproduct to obtain gold, making the entire process exceptionally sustainable.

The process begins with denaturing whey proteins under acidic conditions and high temperatures, causing them to aggregate into nanofibrils within a gel. This gel is then dried and molded into a sponge-like structure.

The extracted metal parts from old computer motherboards are dissolved in an acid bath to ionize the metals, separating them into positive and negative ions. When the protein fibril sponge is introduced to this metal ion solution, it selectively attracts gold ions. Although other metals, such as copper and iron, are also absorbed by the sponge, gold exhibits significantly higher absorption efficiency.

“The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste,” said Raffaele Mezzenga, the study’s corresponding author.

Once the protein fibril sponge absorbs the gold ions, it undergoes a heating process, reducing the ions to flakes that eventually melt down into a gold nugget. Astonishingly, the analysis of the nugget reveals a high purity level, predominantly gold (90.8 wt per cent), with contributions from copper (10.9 wt per cent) and nickel (0.018 wt per cent), resulting in a 21 or 22 karat gold nugget.

The researchers have not only demonstrated the commercial viability of this method but have also highlighted its environmental advantages over conventional techniques. The total cost of recovering 1 gram of gold from e-waste, including source material procurement and energy costs, is reported to be 50 times lower than the value of the gold recovered.

Moreover, the environmental footprint is significantly reduced compared to using traditional activated carbon for gold recovery, showcasing the method's potential for widespread adoption.

While traditional methods using activated carbon produce around 116 grams of carbon dioxide for recovering 1 gram of gold from e-waste, the whey-based protein fibril sponge method results in approximately 87 grams of the greenhouse gas.

This lower environmental impact is attributed to the reduced energy consumption during production, primarily due to the use of renewable fuel sources, combined with the sponge's higher adsorption capacity compared to activated carbon.

Despite these promising outcomes, the researchers acknowledge potential concerns about the environmental impact of using whey, an animal-based protein. As a next step, they plan to explore alternative plant-based proteins, such as those derived from peas and potatoes, to mitigate potential ecosystem damage.

As the researchers prepare to bring this innovative technology to the market, the study opens up possibilities for gold extraction from various sources beyond e-waste. Industrial waste from microchip manufacturing or gold-plating processes could be the next frontiers for this sustainable and efficient gold recovery method, marking a significant step toward a more circular and responsible approach to resource utilization.

More For You

India jewellery

The US accounts for nearly £7.6 billion, or 30.4 per cent, of India’s annual gems and jewellery exports.(Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

India’s jewellery exports face decline as US tariffs hit

INDIA’s £24 billion gems and jewellery industry is preparing for a sharp decline in exports as the US imposes a 26 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

Industry officials said this would significantly affect sales to the US, India’s largest jewellery market.

Keep ReadingShow less
ronnie screwvala

Ronnie Screwvala’s rise to billionaire status is an inspiring story of vision

Getty

Ronnie Screwvala: From toothbrush seller to Bollywood's lone billionaire

The 2025 edition of the Forbes Billionaire List was released on Wednesday morning, showcasing the world's wealthiest individuals. The list features 3,028 billionaires globally, including 205 from India. Among these is Bollywood's only billionaire, Ronnie Screwvala, a media mogul whose journey from manufacturing toothbrushes to becoming a leading entrepreneur is nothing short of remarkable. With a net worth of $1.5 billion, Screwvala has surpassed the combined fortunes of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan.

Bollywood’s wealthiest man

Ronnie Screwvala stands as the richest person from the Hindi film industry, with a fortune exceeding that of its biggest icons. According to Forbes, his net worth of $1.5 billion surpasses the combined wealth of Shah Rukh Khan ($770 million), Salman Khan ($390 million), and Aamir Khan ($220 million), whose total stands at $1.38 billion. Additionally, he eclipses other notable figures such as Gulshan Kumar (approximately $900 million) and Aditya Chopra ($800 million). His financial success is a testament to his entrepreneurial acumen and strategic investments in both entertainment and education sectors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump

Trump announced a series of tariff increases targeting various nations, including key US allies such as the UK and the European Union.

Getty Images

Trump’s tariffs hit global markets, Starmer warns of 'economic impact'

The UK and other global economies reacted on Thursday to US president Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs, with prime minister Keir Starmer warning of an “economic impact” from the 10 per cent levy on British exports.

Trump announced a series of tariff increases targeting various nations, including key US allies such as the UK and the European Union.

Keep ReadingShow less
Airbus bets on Indian supply
base to scale up production

Guillaume Faury

Airbus bets on Indian supply base to scale up production

AIRCRAFT maker Airbus plans to significantly ramp up its annual sourcing of components and services from India to reach $2 billion (£1.54bn) by 2030, its CEO Guillaume Faury has said.

Describing India as one of the most important markets for Airbus in terms of growth, Faury said the challenge for the aircraft maker is to support the speed of the growth of the aviation industry in India.

Keep ReadingShow less
nintendo switch 2

The new console aims to build upon the success of its predecessor while introducing fresh innovations

Getty

Nintendo unveils Switch 2 - A new era for hybrid gaming begins

After months of speculation and cryptic teaser campaigns, Nintendo has officially announced the highly anticipated successor to its bestselling hybrid console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on 5 June, with a price tag of £395.99 for the base package and £429.99 for a bundle including Mario Kart World. With a range of hardware improvements, redesigned controllers, and an exciting lineup of games, the new console aims to build upon the success of its predecessor while introducing fresh innovations.

A Bigger, Sharper Display and 4K Support

One of the most noticeable upgrades in the Nintendo Switch 2 is its display. The console now features a larger 7.9-inch screen, boasting twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supporting full 1080p resolution. Additionally, the display is capable of up to 120 frames per second, ensuring smoother animations, while high dynamic range (HDR) enhances colour contrast for a richer visual experience. Despite these improvements, the Switch 2 maintains the same thickness as the original model, preserving its signature portable form factor.

Keep ReadingShow less