Gold extraction from e-waste gets 10 times more efficient with new sponge material

A novel material created by National University of Singapore researchers is 10 times more efficient at extracting gold from e-waste than existing methods. Made from graphene oxide and chitosan, this sponge-like substance can extract about 17g/g of Au3+ ions and 6 g/g of Au+ without power application. This breakthrough could revolutionize gold recovery from electronic waste, improving cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and efficiency. The method may also be adapted for recovering other valuable metals and aiding environmental cleanup efforts.