Fribport, New York – In ERLORKS In Freeport, New York, piles of dusty TVs, personal computers, printers, and Other old technology It is the beginning of the search for electronic treasure.
“There is a value that will be there,” Mark Wellkins, CEO of EWORKS, told CBS News. “It may be a small value, but it is our duty to go through this process and evaluate each of these components.”
The Wilkins team is first tested to see if the electronics are still working. If not, it will be dismantled, because anything with a chip can contain gold, and more than you think.
And not only the gold that can be seen with your eye on circuit plates, but also small pieces packed in internal processors and other components.
“There is more gold in a ton of Electronic waste Who in a ton of crude bumped from the ground.
Abbaspourrad explains that about a million mobile phones used can produce “something nearly 70 to 85 pounds of gold.”
But so far, the process has required harmful chemicals such as cyanide to filter it. Therefore, Abbaspourrad and his team in Cornell developed a way they say it is more efficient, which carries fewer environmental risks. The process uses an organic compound to absorb gold ions such as sponge.
“Our sponge is selectively targeting gold, and this is a big difference,” said Abssorrad.
Gold can then be reused in solar panels and new electronics and perhaps even jewelry. The easiest and cheapest extraction can increase the financial incentive to recycle safely, and to keep toxic metals from waste burials.
A United Nations Report Last year found that in 2022, the world established 62 million tons of electronic waste, such as elements such as old mobile phones and laptops. This represents an increase of 82 % of a contract only before a decade.
According to Cornell, global electronic waste is expected to grow to 80 million metric tons annually by 2030.
“I think the world is now more aware of it,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins and Eurx sees an increased pile of chance. The company was established more than a decade ago, the company has created dozens of jobs for disabled employees who learn how to deliver old technology, sorting and dismantling.
“Our mission is to provide training, education and employment for persons with disabilities,” Wilkins said. “Therefore, about 48 % of our workforce are people with special needs.”
It is an opportunity to help more people and the planet, and it is possible by mining tools for gold.
