Inavestigation of Innovative Recycling Methods for Electronic Waste to Recover Valuable Metals Efficiently

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing solid-waste streams globally, driven by rapid technological turnover and consumer demand for electronic devices. Traditional recycling approaches struggle with low recovery rates, high energy consumption, and environmental hazards associated with toxic components. This study investigates innovative and sustainable methods for recovering valuable metals—such as gold, silver, palladium, copper, and rare earth elements—from e-waste through advanced mechanical, chemical, and biological routes. A multi-method assessment is conducted using controlled laboratory simulations and comparative analysis of leaching efficiencies, energy requirements, and environmental impacts. Experimental results demonstrate that bioleaching using selective microorganisms and green solvent-assisted hydrometallurgy provide significant improvements in metal recovery efficiency while reducing the use of hazardous reagents. The findings highlight the potential of integrating hybrid techniques to optimize metal extraction from complex electronic scrap materials.