Hydrometallurgical Recovery of Copper from Computer-Printed Circuit Boards

• Published in: E3S Web of Conferences
• Main Author: Jani W.N.F.A.; Rani N.H.A.; Mohamad N.F.; Jamaludin S.I.S.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85216780637&doi=10.1051%2fe3sconf%2f202459904006&partnerID=40&md5=8391cb25fd7ef74622c3ee54a5d87b61

Modern electronic devices contain up to 60 different metals, leading to a growing interest in exploring secondary sources, particularly electronic waste (e-waste), to address potential shortages. This study focused on extracting copper (Cu) and gold (Au) from three different sources of computer-printed circuit boards (PCBs): board, USB jack, and capacitor. Aqua regia, a mixture of 68% concentrated nitric acid and 37% concentrated hydrochloric acid in a 1:3 ratio (HNO3=1:3) was used as a leachant under various conditions, including different types of e-waste components, leaching times, and surface areas. Acidic leaching with a 1% (w/v) e-waste pulp density resulted in higher Cu extraction from PCB board waste compared to USB jack and capacitor waste. The optimal recovery of Cu achieved was 2207 mg/L after 20 minutes of leaching, using a particle size of 10 mm, at 100°C, 150 rpm, and a pulp density of 1% (w/v). The dissolution of Au was only traceable in the capacitor and USB jack with significantly lower quantities of 0.4 and 3.2 mg/L, respectively. Additionally, the electrowinning process managed to recover Cu with just 31.6% purity after one hour of electrolysis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of recovering valuable metals from e-waste through acid leaching, without the need for additional chemical treatments. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.