Development of biosorbent using corn (Zea mays) cobs for the recovery of gold from e-waste [manuscript]
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Date
2018
Authors
Irish A. Bayudan
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Abstract
Adsorption technique to recover gold from aqueous solutions using agricultural wastes has become the most promising method due to its low cost, high efficiency and eco-friendly method. In this study, corn (Zea mays) cobs as an agricultural was and eco-friendly biosorbent was efficiently applied for gold recovery from printed circuit boards (PCBs) of mobile waste. Various instrumental characterization of cross-linked polymer of corn cobs before and after adsorption of gold particles were used to confirm the successful adsorption of metals particles on biosorbent surface.
The surface morphology and functional groups of cross-linked polymer of corn cobs before and after gold adsoprtion were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) while optical microscope was used for a more detailed and larger image of gold particles adsorbed in the biosorbent. Qualitative analysis was applied to prove that the obtained metal particles was indeed gold.
Results from FTIR spectra confirmed the oxidation of hydroxyl to carbonyl group in the biosorbent and the reduction of gold ions that occur simultaneously on the surface of synthesized biosorbents. The SEM and optical microscope images further showed that the gold particles were adsorbed in the biosorbent surface while qualitative analysis confirmed that gold was present in the biosorbent giving a positive test of green color spot. The cross linked polymer of corn cobs, therefore, has potential in gold recovery process.