The ubiquity of printed circuit boards (PCB) is evident by the increased use of cell phones, personal computers, and electronics. PCB contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, antimony, and arsenic as well as precious metals such as gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. Finding safe and environmental friendly methods for recycling and reclaiming these toxic and precious metals is necessary for both environmental and resource conservation. Recently thiourea has been investigated in the literature as a safe alternative to cyanide for the leaching of metals, and most notably gold, from PCB. An advanced analytical chemistry laboratory was written to study the feasibility and success of using thiourea for leaching metals from PCB. The metals were quantified using standard addition in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. After quantitation of the precious metals the leached copper from the PCB was recovered through electrochemical deposition. The laboratory was engaging, relevant, and practical to undergraduate students because it utilized sustainable methods for the quantitation and reclamation of precious metals from the electronic materials they use every day.

Quantifying and recycling precious metals from printed circuit boards: An undergraduate laboratory

249th National Meeting (2015)

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