The new process allows for the extraction of over 98% gold and about 93% palladium from old mobile phones, processors, and circuit boards in just 20 minutes. The technology uses inexpensive and environmentally friendly reagents - potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and potassium chloride (KCl) - and does not require aggressive chemicals such as cyanide.
The mechanism of self-catalytic leaching suggests that the metals on the surface act as catalysts themselves: the highly reactive oxidizers formed break down the atoms of gold and palladium, allowing them to be easily extracted from the solution.
According to the researchers, recycling 10 kg of old circuit boards can yield about 1.4 grams of gold at a total value of approximately $72, which is significantly cheaper than current market prices for the metal, which exceeded $4,400 per ounce at the beginning of January 2026.
The new technology also reduces energy consumption by 62.5%, reagent costs by more than 93%, and minimizes the amount of secondary waste. After leaching, the dissolved metals can be easily recovered to obtain high-purity gold.
Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing streams of solid waste in the world. According to WHO, its volume increases by 2.6 million tons annually, and by 2030, the global e-waste stream is expected to reach 82 million tons.
The results of the study are published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and the scientists believe that their method could be a key step in the environmentally safe recycling of electronic waste and reducing dependence on traditional mining of minerals.
