Extraction of nano-metals with judicious combination of microwave heating and acid leaching process from E-waste

Abstract

The main aim of the present investigation is to develop and synthesis the precious nano-metals such as nano gold and its by product components such as nano copper, nano silver etc. The investigations were basically consisting of two level environmental friendly process i.e., recovering of the gold from discarded E-waste components and secondly with the proper reaction after boiling. The precious nano materials so obtained will be very much useful for sensors, organic photovoltaic materials, other electronic conductors, probes, drugs and medicines in bio-medical applications, catalysis and reagent in bio-chemical applications etc. The results with XRD, FESEM-EDX and UV analysis studies from present investigations clearly confirm about the presence of nano gold particles and its by products. All the investigations were performed with microwave heat treatment as an environmental friendly method.

Keywords:

• E-waste sample
• microwave heating
• aqua leaching
• FESEM
• XRD
• EDAX
• UV analysis
• image mapping

Additional information

Funding

The authors are very grateful to the Researchers of CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar for extending the facilities to carry out the work with sophisticated instruments.