Researchers extract 450 mg gold from 20 computer motherboards

ETH Zürich researchers have successfully extracted 450 milligrams of gold from 20 old computer motherboards found in electronic waste piles using a newly-developed sponge made from protein matrix. The motherboards' metal parts were dissolved in acid, in which the sponge was placed, to ionise metals. Gold ions which adhered to sponge were then turned into flakes by heating the sponge.