J. Chem. Chem. Eng.

7 (2013) 759-766 D DAVID PUBLISHING

Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer

Printed Circuit

Miguel Aguilar Cortes1, Martha Lilia Domnguez Patio2*, Antonio Rodrguez Martnez3, Rene Guardin Tapia3
and Rosa Mara Melgoza Alemn1
1. Engineering and Applied Science Postgraduate School, University of Autonomous Morelos State, Morelos 62209, Mexico
2. Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, University of Autonomous Morelos State, Morelos 62209, Mexico
3. Engineering and Applied Sciences Research Centre, University of Autonomous Morelos State, Morelos 62209, Mexico

Received: May 28, 2013 / Accepted: June 17, 2013 / Published: August 25, 2013.

Abstract: The life of electronic equipment is becoming increasingly shorter and its replacement always generates a quantity of waste
increase, giving rise to a problem of environmental character and still needed new options of solid waste management that will
contribute to global sustainable development. Parts of these waste are TCI (the cards printed circuit) which containing dangerous
elements and turns them into a polluting material from the soil, water and air, being harmful to human health if there is to proper and
responsible way, so the recycling of TCI to obtain precious metals is an example of industrial materials that can be recycled. Despite
this, large quantities of these are not recycled and some others are not considered. The objective of this work is to present a
systematic and ecological methodology for the recovery of valuable materials contained in parts of used in computers, circuit boards
using a leaching process. The method determines a set of variables to evaluate the kinetics of the reaction and the leaching of metals
that form the substrate of metal and to establish the parameters that affect the rate of leaching of metals through a sensitivity analysis,
to identify design alternatives. It determines the quantity and percentages that constitutes the motherboard, processor, video cards,
accelerator graphics, network and memory cards RAM, among others and its content of metals such as Cu, Fe, Ag, Au and Pt.

Key words: Precious metals, leaching, waste electrical and electronic equipment, printed circuit board.

1. Introduction in design and market trends, dropped large amount of

equipment, especially the electronics (computers,
Developed countries are carrying out activities to
mobile phones, tablets, etc.), not necessarily fulfilled
increase recycling. During a certain period of time, its
its useful life; thus generating a significant amount of
main focus of attention was on recycling
solid waste. 75,000 tons of this waste in Mexico is
post-consumer products.
projected for the year 2013.
Industrial waste recycling also tends to growth. In
The electronic scrap known as WEEE (waste
some materials, an effective recycling system cannot
electrical and electronic equipment), consists mainly
be implanted spontaneously, i.e., is a matter which
of metals, plastics and ceramics. The content of
concerns technology, planning, economics and
hazardous metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury,
environmental regulation [1].
arsenic and products like PCBs, biphenyl and PVC
Electrical and electronic equipment are parts of the
(polyvinyl chloride) among others, makes the WEEE
everyday life of most of the worlds population,
in a pollution of the soil, water, air and material
thanks to rapid technological progress, improvements
hazardous to health if they do not have a proper and
responsible manner; which makes them important
*
Corresponding author: Martha Lilia Domnguez Patio, from an environmental point of view. On the other
Ph.D., research fields: new material and biomaterials. E-mail:
martha_ldp@yahoo.com.mx. hand, the content of precious metals and valuable
760 Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit
economic as gold, silver, platinum and copper makes
WEEE important from an economic point of view.
Facing an inadequate final disposal, it is important
to develop a process that allows people to recover
valuable metals, thus reducing the amount of
electronic waste for disposal, and also with economic
and environmental advantages, since leaching residues
can be used as fertilizer for plants.
The united nations environment programmed
estimated that worldwide each year between 50 and
500 million tons of electrical and electronic equipment
with contents of substances of bromide, plastic PVC,
and epoxy resins are generated, and where the
electronic scrap from computers plays a big role; only
in Mexico in the year 2011 removed service 52.75
million tons of computers, containing a metal portion
30% and 70% of non-metallic portion; comprising the
latter approximately: 20% copper (Cu), 8% iron (Fe),
4% tin (Sn), 2% nickel (Ni), 2% lead (Pb), 1% zinc
(Zn), 0.2% silver (Ag), 0.1 gold (Au) and 0.0005% of
palladium (Pd) [2].
Reports made in the SEM show the postcards of the
computers contain on average 7% Fe, 20% Cu, 5% Al,
1.5% Pb, 1% Ni, 100 ppm of Ag, 250 ppm of Au and
100 ppm of Pd, representing precious metals, 79% of
the total economic value of the contained metals.
Veit presented a proposal for processing of ICT that
involves techniques of processing and mechanical
concentration and physics (crushing, classification,
magnetic and electrostatic separation) [3]. They show
that these processes is possible to separate the metal
fraction of polymers and ceramics; and that is possible
to obtain a concentrated metal fraction containing
more than 50% copper, pewter 24% and 8% lead.
Cui and Zhang [4] feature a state of the art for the
recovery of precious metals and valuable of ICT by
pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and
bio-metallurgic processes [4, 5]. They perform a
critical comparison between the main methods of
leaching for an economic feasibility and
environmental impact.
For the leaching of copper from the TCI, Yang et al.
[6] have mainly proposed the use of sulfuric acid with
hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. Xian et al. [7]
have proposed bio-leaching techniques.
Other proposals for the processing of ICT are based
on hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical [8],
processes and biometallurgical [9-11].
Recovery of precious metals involves having
efficient technologies and ecological [12], prior to the
extraction of metallic materials of interest, which do
not permit fumes from substances like bromides that
are flame retardant.
The pyro-metallurgical processes have limitations,
which have been described: aluminum and iron are
transferred to the slag, the presence of halogens in
flame retardant in food form dioxins, glass and
ceramic components increase the load in the furnace,
the pyro-metallurgical processes usually require
accompaniment of hydrometallurgical processes [4].
Processes hydrometallurgical processing electronic
waste, used different solvent acid or basic, as the
sodium cyanide (NaCN), reagent that is considered
highly pollutant, thiourea ((NH2)2CS), thiosulphate
(S2O32-) and strong acids like hydrochloric (HCl),
sulfuric (H2SO4) and nitric (HNO3). Sodium cyanide
being the technique of leaching most used in the world
for more than one century, high yields in metal
leaching, low costs and the conventional equipment
required, but with a very high pollution [13].
Therefore, that is intended to study other leaching
methods, less polluting.
The situation of treatment and utilization of these
wastes, at the national level, are in the early stages of
development and research; few national organizations
have interest in the development of procedures and
technologies for the proper management of these
artifacts and already evidenced concern [14], garbage
collection companies cannot accept this waste, so the
problem is growing.
The central issue is the environmental impact that
generates the electrical and electronic equipment,
 Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit
which contain metal components, plastics and other
potentially hazardous substances that are of great
concern in the world. These kits contain valuable
metals, but also halogen elements, mercury, cadmium
and lead which are of great environmental concern
[15].
This work develops an exhaustive analysis of the
content of the motherboards, the processor, heat sink,
as well as the video cards, graphics, network cards and
cards of RAM accelerator, make a proposal at
laboratory scale, as a methodology for the recovery of
precious metals from cards of TCI with a degree of
purity greater than 99% and friendly with the
environment. This proposal is made as a first
contribution to a full recycling process that allows the
use of the largest possible number of WEEE.
The proposed methodology is based on physical
and chemical operations of processing of minerals,
such as reduction in size and classification,
concentration by magnetic and electrostatic
separation, leaching, electro-lixiviation and
electroplating.
2. Methods
The development of the proposed methodology was
parts of different trademarks as a representative
sample. These cards are made practically of the same
electronic devices (capacitors, resistors, transistors,
integrated circuits, etc.) and differ only in the content
of one or the other.
Full processing consists of preparation, reduction of
size and classification, magnetic and electrostatic
separation, leaching and electroplating, using the
following procedure:
(1) Collection of circuits computer (network cards)
forms which are representative of different
generations of computers;
(2) Characterization by SEM (scanning electron
microscopy) and microanalysis by EDS (dispersion of
energies) of all parties make up the printed circuit
board;
761
(3) Selection of parts that contain gold;
(4) Trim selected parts containing gold;
(5) Study of the nature of the reaction of leaching of
metals in the system O2-H2SO42-;
(6) Study of the kinetics of leaching system
O2-H2SO42-Analysis of results and proposal of the
optimum process of leaching from electronic waste;
(7) Obtaining of metallic gold, ready to be cast.
3. Results
Fig. 1 shows the circuit board used and electron
microscopy. The results studies in percentage by
weight of 2.54 Ni, Cu 0.35 and Au 80.30.
In the RAM memory of Fig. 2, studies by scanning
electronic microscopy in conjunction with
microanalysis by dispersion of energies, revealed the
presence in percentage by weight of Ni 5.49 and Au
86.02.
At the base of the card processor of Fig. 3, studies
by scanning electronic microscopy in conjunction
with microanalysis by dispersion of energies, revealed
the presence in percentage by weight of to the Al 0.73
and Ni 93.95.
In Fig. 4 processor, studies by scanning electronic
microscopy in conjunction with microanalysis by
energy dispersion, revealed the presence in percentage
by weight of Ni 38.31.
On the motherboard of Fig. 5, studies by scanning
electronic microscopy in conjunction with
microanalysis by energy dispersion, they revealed the
presence in percentage by weight of Cu 56.52, Ni 0.73
and Zn 33.03.
In Fig. 6 heat sink, studies by scanning electronic
microscopy in conjunction with microanalysis by
dispersion of energies, revealed the presence in
percentage by weight of the Al 42.41 and S 4.90.
At the base of the card processor of Fig. 7, studies
by scanning electronic microscopy in conjunction
with microanalysis by energy dispersion, they
revealed the presence in percentage by weight of Cu
23.55, Sn 41.51 and Pb 18.06.
762 Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit

(a) (b)
Fig. 1 Network card (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

(a) (b)
Fig. 2 RAM memory (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

(a) (b)
Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit 763

Fig. 3 Based processor (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

(a) (b)
Fig. 4 Processor (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

(a) (b)
Fig. 5 Motherboard (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.
764 Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit

(a) (b)
Fig.6 Heat sink (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

(a) (b)
Fig. 7 Computer chip (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.

In the capacitors of the mother board of the Fig. 8,
studies by scanning electronic microscopy in
conjunction with microanalysis by dispersion of
energies, they revealed the presence in the body of the
capacitor as a percentage by weight As 0.03, Sn 29.23
and Pb 53.43, and Ni 93.76 connections.
4. Chemical Characterization
The chemical characterization will be by leaching of
metals that will be diluted and subsequently analyzed
by mass spectrometry of AAS (atomic absorption), to
determine the concentration of the precious metals. The
equipment to be used will be a spectrometer, with
hollow cathode lamp and in his case, lamps of Zn, Fe
and Cu.
The printed circuit board of computer (e-card) was
properly characterized, as well as all the solids
obtained during the study of the dynamic leaching acid,
by SEM-EDS (SEM (scanning electronic microscopy)
and EDS (microanalysis by dispersion of energies)).
The authors used a scanning electron microscope brand
LEO model LEO 1450 VP, with a current probe of 10-2
to 10-5 A and voltage of 2-30 kV for a scope of
300,000 amplifications (Fig. 9). The team is equipped
with a solid state detector, which allows performing
semi-quantitative microanalysis by EDS.
 Methodology for Precious Metal Recovery in Computer Printed Circuit
(a)
Fig. 8 Capacitors (a) and its microanalysis (b) by energy dispersion.
Fig. 9 Scanning electron microscope.
The preparation of test specimens consisted of
mounted tape double-sided graphite to a small amount
of sample and be subsequently coated with a thin layer
of carbon of approximately 600 of thickness. In this
way, it was possible to examination of samples,
highlighting their morphology, structure and chemical
microanalysis.
An option to recover the content gold in electronic
waste (CPC) by hydrometallurgy is the use of acidic
oxidants, especifically H2SO4. Theoretically expected
a physical separation between golden components (gold)
and the polymer base, with the understanding that the
authors could dissolve at Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni (metals that
make up the metal plate base) pass them to a solution
and subsequently recover the gold in solid form and
the polymer base also in solid form. To test the
authors theory, the authors will conduct multiple
experiments under certain experimental conditions.
The conditions of the experiments will be
performed under the following scheme: mass of the
sample 15 g, volume 500 mL, temperature 25 C,
H2SO4 0.5 M, pressure of air at 1 atm, agitation speed
750 rpm, and time of residence 500 min. The
concentrations of sulfuric acid, temperature, residence
time, pressure of air as well as agitation speed, vary to
765
(b)
determine the optimal conditions of leaching and
compute the orders of reaction and the activation
energy of the system.
5. Conclusions
A concentration back and efficient recovery of
valuable metals from electronic waste will require a
good release of the species of interest in the process of
downsizing. In addition the physical processes of
magnetic and electrostatic concentration in the
recycling process represent an excellent alternative
since they do not generate pollution.
The selective dissolution stage allows a rich in
copper sulphate solution suitable for further recovery
of the same. In this way, you can retrieve other
valuable metals taking advantage of electronic waste.
The final collection of precious metals can be done
through leaching and this is a technique that does not
generate large wastewater since the solutions are
recirculated to the process. The process is expected to
a feasibility of obtaining copper without refining with
a purity exceeding 99%, from computer by
electrochemical processes printed circuit boards.
Evident then is the applicability of mineral
processing techniques to separate metal fractions,
ceramics and polymers of the TCI and to recover
precious metals metallurgical techniques, as an
alternative solution to the problem of final disposal of
WEEE, and which is friendly to the environment, thus
contributing to global sustainable development.
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