Recovery of Metals from Printed Circuit Boards by Gold-REC 1 Hydrometallurgical Process

The paper describes a small full-scale plant based on the Gold-REC 1 process, designed and patented by University of L’Aquila; hydrometallurgical process allows treatment printed circuit boards (PCBs). first step is mechanical to reduce size scraps below 2 mm. extraction base metals occurs in reactor sulfuric acid/hydrogen peroxide solution. After filtration, solid leached again with thiourea ferric sulfate acid solution extract gold silver. This second sent an electrolytic cell where recovered as metal powder. resulting undergoes electrowinning, silver deposited cathode. pregnant recovery Cu Sn. A simulation was developed using lab-scale trial results. 350 tons PCBs/year, running batch operating mode, produces around 43.8 kg/year gold, 85.8 silver, 42.4 tons/year copper, 7.2 tin oxide. results show profitability process: net present value EUR 10.7 M, internal rate return 150% discounted payback time years.