The Royal Mint is now turning old electronics into gold. They’ve set up a big new facility in Llantrisant, Wales, where they process electronic waste, like old phones and computers, to extract gold.
Here’s how it works: Old circuit boards are brought to the plant, where they are heated and broken down.
Gold pieces are separated out, then put into a chemical solution to extract the gold, which is then purified into nuggets.
This method is less harmful to the environment compared to traditional methods, which use toxic chemicals and high energy.
This new process will handle about 4,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, aiming to produce around 450 kilograms of gold worth about £27 million. The Royal Mint is doing this because there is a lot of e-waste being thrown away—62 million tonnes in 2022 alone, and it’s expected to grow significantly.
The Royal Mint wants to use this waste to create gold for jewelry and commemorative coins.
The Royal Mint, known for making coins for over a thousand years, is shifting its focus due to the decline in cash use.
This new venture not only helps recycle valuable materials but also helps preserve jobs.
They’re also exploring ways to reuse other materials from the circuit boards, like aluminum and copper, and even considering if the ground-up boards could be used in construction.
For more details, check the BBC’s coverage.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6p2k11e41po