METHODS FOR RECOVERING METALS FROM ELECTRONIC WASTE, AND RELATED SYSTEMS

摘要

A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

主权项

1. A method of recovering metals from electronic waste, the method comprising:
providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor; providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor; contacting the powder within the first reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from the powder into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions; contacting the powder within the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from the powder into the electrolyte, the powder in the second reactor comprising a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor; and oxidizing the ferrous ions at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions.