ETH Zurich Develops Revolutionary Sponge Made from Whey Protein to Extract Metal Ions with Eco-Friendly Technique

In a new development, scientists at ETH Zurich have created a sponge made from whey protein that is capable of extracting metal ions. The researchers removed the natural properties of whey protein by subjecting it to acid and high temperatures, transforming the proteins into nanofibrils. These fibers were dried and used to make a sponge.

In a study conducted by Mohammad Peydayesh and his team, over 20 computer motherboards were used to test the metal-extracting capabilities of the sponge. Metal parts from the motherboards were dissolved in an acid bath to ionize the metals. The protein fiber sponge was then placed in the metal ion solution, where it efficiently adhered to gold ions. After extracting the gold ions, researchers heated the sponge to transform them into gold flakes, which were then melted down to produce a gold nugget weighing 450 milligrams.

This eco-friendly technique developed by ETH Zurich has enormous potential for commercial applications. The cost of obtaining materials and energy costs for the process is estimated to be just 5% of the value of the gold that can be recovered. Researchers are now working on making this technology market-ready, with plans to extract gold from electronic waste as well as explore other potential sources such as waste from microchip manufacturing or gold-plating processes.

Furthermore, ETH Zurich’s team is interested in exploring whether this innovative approach could be applied to repurpose food industry byproducts or waste materials for valuable applications. This not only offers a sustainable method for extracting precious metals from electronic waste but also creates opportunities for food industries looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact while still generating revenue.

Overall, this new technology has significant implications for both sustainability and profitability in various industries such as electronics and food production.