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[EN] The high volume of sales and the high degree of obsolescence of mobile phones, together with the reduction of the natural reserves of the metals used in the composition of their printed circuit boards (PCBs), makes the recycling of these devices economically and environmentally attractive. Moreover, the search for the reduction of toxicity levels inherent to the gold leaching processes with alternatives to cyanide, such as thiosulfate is a priority. Thus, it is necessary to search for efficient alternatives for the recovery of gold from solutions containing thiosulfate, in the presence of copper, used in the leaching of PCBs of mobile phones. One of these alternatives could be the electrochemical recovery of the metals present in solution. Thus, this study aimed to verify some variables involved in the process of recovery of gold and copper and to determine the electrochemical yield obtained for these solutions. Initially, cyclic scanning voltammetry with a rotating disk electrode (RDE) was performed to verify the electrochemical behavior of gold and copper in solution. Then, electrowinning tests were used to determine the recovery rates of these metals and to calculate the yield obtained in the process. The results showed that this electrochemical reaction is mass transport controlled, which allowed the calculation of the diffusion coefficients of the metal in solution. In real solutions, the gold fraction recovered reached a 94%, and the copper fraction recovered was 95%, applying electrode potential values of -500 mV(Ag/AgCl) and -700 mV(Ag/AgCl), respectively. The current efficiency for the gold electrowinning achieved in the experiments was lower than 3%. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[EN] The high volume of sales and the high degree of obsolescence of mobile phones, together with the reduction of the natural reserves of the metals used in the composition of their printed circuit boards (PCBs), makes the recycling of these devices economically and environmentally attractive. Moreover, the search for the reduction of toxicity levels inherent to the gold leaching processes with alternatives to cyanide, such as thiosulfate is a priority. Thus, it is necessary to search for efficient alternatives for the recovery of gold from solutions containing thiosulfate, in the presence of copper, used in the leaching of PCBs of mobile phones. One of these alternatives could be the electrochemical recovery of the metals present in solution. Thus, this study aimed to verify some variables involved in the process of recovery of gold and copper and to determine the electrochemical yield obtained for these solutions. Initially, cyclic scanning voltammetry with a rotating disk electrode (RDE) was performed to verify the electrochemical behavior of gold and copper in solution. Then, electrowinning tests were used to determine the recovery rates of these metals and to calculate the yield obtained in the process. The results showed that this electrochemical reaction is mass transport controlled, which allowed the calculation of the diffusion coefficients of the metal in solution. In real solutions, the gold fraction recovered reached a 94%, and the copper fraction recovered was 95%, applying electrode potential values of -500 mV(Ag/AgCl) and -700 mV(Ag/AgCl), respectively. The current efficiency for the gold electrowinning achieved in the experiments was lower than 3%. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[EN] The precious metals natural sources, including gold, have decreased around the world each year. At the same time, the demand for these metals have increased, especially for the use in the electrical and electronics products industry. The recovery of metals from these scraps could be one way to mitigate this problem, since consumption and disposal have considerably increased every year. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate alternative leaching agents for the gold extraction present in the printed circuit boards (PCB's) of cell phones, and subsequent recovery by electrometallurgical process. Entire PCB's obtained from obsolete or defective cell phones were used. Thus, a commercial stripping (cyanide-based) and alternative leaching agents (sodium and ammonium thiosulfate) were tested under different conditions of concentration, time, pH and temperature. The solutions were analyzed by atomic absorption. The amount of gold contained in the PCB's was measured, by a preliminary test, in which, samples were leached with aqua regia for a complete extraction of the metal and further comparison with the commercial stripping and alternative leaching agents. The electrometallurgical stage began with the cyclic voltammetry experiments to determine the gold and copper electrowinning potential. After that, electrowinning tests using different electrode potentials to determine the recovery rates of these metals were performed. The results obtained in the leaching tests show that with the commercial stripping, it was possible to extract 88% of the gold present in the PCB of cell phones. With sodium thiosulfate, it was possible to extract 70% of the gold contained in the PCB, using 0.12M of sodium thiosulfate, 0.2M of ammonium and 20mM of copper sulphate. With ammonium thiosulfate, it was possible to extract 75% of the gold, using 0.12M of ammonium thiosulfate, 0.2M of ammonium and 20mM of copper sulfate. Regarding the recovery of metals in solution, the results of cyclic volta, [ES] Cada año las reservas naturales de metales preciosos, entre ellos el oro, van disminuyendo en todo el mundo. Paralelamente, la demanda de estos metales va en aumento, especialmente para su utilización en la industria de productos eléctricos y electrónicos. Una forma de atenuar este problema podría ser la recuperación de los metales contenidos en las chatarras de estos productos, cuyo consumo y desechos aumentan considerablemente cada año. Por tanto, este trabajo tiene por objetivo evaluar agentes lixiviantes alternativos para la extracción del oro contenido en las placas de circuito impreso (PCI) de teléfonos móviles y su posterior recuperación por vía electrometalúrgica. Se utilizaron PCI's enteras obtenidas de aparatos de teléfonos móviles obsoletos o defectuosos. En los ensayos de lixiviación se probaron, además de un agente extractor comercial (a base de cianuro), los agentes lixiviantes alternativos tiosulfato sódico y tiosulfato amónico en medio amoniacal, a distintas concentraciones, pH, tiempos y temperaturas. Las disoluciones obtenidas se analizaron por absorción atómica. La cantidad de oro contenido en las placas se midió a través de un ensayo previo donde las muestras fueron lixiviadas con agua regia para una extracción completa del metal y la posterior comparación con el agente extractor comercial y los lixiviantes alternativos. La etapa electrometalúrgica se inició con los ensayos de voltametría cíclica para determinar los potenciales de electrodeposición de oro y de cobre y a continuación se realizaron ensayos de eletrodeposición utilizando diferentes potenciales de electrodo para determinar las velocidades de recuperación de estos metales. Los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos de lixiviación muestran que el agente extractor comercial fue capaz de extraer el 88% del oro contenido en las PCI de los teléfonos móviles. Con la utilización de tiosulfato sódico fue posible extraer el 70% del oro contenido en las PCI's, utilizando disoluciones de compo, [CA] Cada any les reserves naturals de metalls preciosos, entre ells l'or, van disminuint en tot el món. Paral¿lelament, la demanda d'estos metalls va en augment, especialment per a la seua utilització en la indústria de productes elèctrics i electrònics. Una forma d'atenuar aquest problema podria ser la recuperació dels metalls continguts en les ferralles d'aquestos productes, el consum i rebutjos dels quals augmenten considerablement cada any. Per tant, aquest treball té per objectiu avaluar agents lixiviants alternatius per a l'extracció de l'or contingut en les plaques de circuit imprés (PCI) de telèfons mòbils i la seua posterior recuperació per via electrometal¿lúrgica. Es van utilitzar PCI's senceres obtingudes d'aparells de telèfons mòbils obsolets o defectuosos. En els assajos de lixiviació es van provar, a més d'un agent extractor comercial (a base de cianur) , els agents lixiviants alternatius tiosulfat sòdic i tiosulfat d'amoni al medi amoniacal, a distintes concentracions, pH, temps i temperatures. Les dissolucions obtingudes es van analitzar per absorció atòmica. La quantitat d'or contingut en les plaques es va mesurar a través d'un assaig previ on les mostres van ser lixiviades amb aigua règia per a una extracció completa del metall i la posterior comparació amb l'agent extractor comercial i els lixiviants alternatius. L'etapa electrometal¿lúrgica es va iniciar amb els assajos de voltametria cíclica per a determinar els potencials d'electrodeposició d'or i de coure i a continuació es van realitzar assajos d'eletrodeposició utilitzant diferents potencials d'elèctrode per a determinar les velocitats de recuperació d'aquests metalls. Els resultats obtinguts en els assajos de lixiviació mostren que l'agent extractor comercial va ser capaç d'extraure el 88% de l'or contingut en les PCI dels telèfons mòbils. Amb la utilització de tiosulfat sòdic va ser possible extraure el 70% de l'or contingut en les PCI's, utilitzant dissolucions de composició 0,12M de ti

[EN] The precious metals natural sources, including gold, have decreased around the world each year. At the same time, the demand for these metals have increased, especially for the use in the electrical and electronics products industry. The recovery of metals from these scraps could be one way to mitigate this problem, since consumption and disposal have considerably increased every year. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate alternative leaching agents for the gold extraction present in the printed circuit boards (PCB's) of cell phones, and subsequent recovery by electrometallurgical process. Entire PCB's obtained from obsolete or defective cell phones were used. Thus, a commercial stripping (cyanide-based) and alternative leaching agents (sodium and ammonium thiosulfate) were tested under different conditions of concentration, time, pH and temperature. The solutions were analyzed by atomic absorption. The amount of gold contained in the PCB's was measured, by a preliminary test, in which, samples were leached with aqua regia for a complete extraction of the metal and further comparison with the commercial stripping and alternative leaching agents. The electrometallurgical stage began with the cyclic voltammetry experiments to determine the gold and copper electrowinning potential. After that, electrowinning tests using different electrode potentials to determine the recovery rates of these metals were performed. The results obtained in the leaching tests show that with the commercial stripping, it was possible to extract 88% of the gold present in the PCB of cell phones. With sodium thiosulfate, it was possible to extract 70% of the gold contained in the PCB, using 0.12M of sodium thiosulfate, 0.2M of ammonium and 20mM of copper sulphate. With ammonium thiosulfate, it was possible to extract 75% of the gold, using 0.12M of ammonium thiosulfate, 0.2M of ammonium and 20mM of copper sulfate. Regarding the recovery of metals in solution, the results of cyclic volta, [ES] Cada año las reservas naturales de metales preciosos, entre ellos el oro, van disminuyendo en todo el mundo. Paralelamente, la demanda de estos metales va en aumento, especialmente para su utilización en la industria de productos eléctricos y electrónicos. Una forma de atenuar este problema podría ser la recuperación de los metales contenidos en las chatarras de estos productos, cuyo consumo y desechos aumentan considerablemente cada año. Por tanto, este trabajo tiene por objetivo evaluar agentes lixiviantes alternativos para la extracción del oro contenido en las placas de circuito impreso (PCI) de teléfonos móviles y su posterior recuperación por vía electrometalúrgica. Se utilizaron PCI's enteras obtenidas de aparatos de teléfonos móviles obsoletos o defectuosos. En los ensayos de lixiviación se probaron, además de un agente extractor comercial (a base de cianuro), los agentes lixiviantes alternativos tiosulfato sódico y tiosulfato amónico en medio amoniacal, a distintas concentraciones, pH, tiempos y temperaturas. Las disoluciones obtenidas se analizaron por absorción atómica. La cantidad de oro contenido en las placas se midió a través de un ensayo previo donde las muestras fueron lixiviadas con agua regia para una extracción completa del metal y la posterior comparación con el agente extractor comercial y los lixiviantes alternativos. La etapa electrometalúrgica se inició con los ensayos de voltametría cíclica para determinar los potenciales de electrodeposición de oro y de cobre y a continuación se realizaron ensayos de eletrodeposición utilizando diferentes potenciales de electrodo para determinar las velocidades de recuperación de estos metales. Los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos de lixiviación muestran que el agente extractor comercial fue capaz de extraer el 88% del oro contenido en las PCI de los teléfonos móviles. Con la utilización de tiosulfato sódico fue posible extraer el 70% del oro contenido en las PCI's, utilizando disoluciones de compo, [CA] Cada any les reserves naturals de metalls preciosos, entre ells l'or, van disminuint en tot el món. Paral¿lelament, la demanda d'estos metalls va en augment, especialment per a la seua utilització en la indústria de productes elèctrics i electrònics. Una forma d'atenuar aquest problema podria ser la recuperació dels metalls continguts en les ferralles d'aquestos productes, el consum i rebutjos dels quals augmenten considerablement cada any. Per tant, aquest treball té per objectiu avaluar agents lixiviants alternatius per a l'extracció de l'or contingut en les plaques de circuit imprés (PCI) de telèfons mòbils i la seua posterior recuperació per via electrometal¿lúrgica. Es van utilitzar PCI's senceres obtingudes d'aparells de telèfons mòbils obsolets o defectuosos. En els assajos de lixiviació es van provar, a més d'un agent extractor comercial (a base de cianur) , els agents lixiviants alternatius tiosulfat sòdic i tiosulfat d'amoni al medi amoniacal, a distintes concentracions, pH, temps i temperatures. Les dissolucions obtingudes es van analitzar per absorció atòmica. La quantitat d'or contingut en les plaques es va mesurar a través d'un assaig previ on les mostres van ser lixiviades amb aigua règia per a una extracció completa del metall i la posterior comparació amb l'agent extractor comercial i els lixiviants alternatius. L'etapa electrometal¿lúrgica es va iniciar amb els assajos de voltametria cíclica per a determinar els potencials d'electrodeposició d'or i de coure i a continuació es van realitzar assajos d'eletrodeposició utilitzant diferents potencials d'elèctrode per a determinar les velocitats de recuperació d'aquests metalls. Els resultats obtinguts en els assajos de lixiviació mostren que l'agent extractor comercial va ser capaç d'extraure el 88% de l'or contingut en les PCI dels telèfons mòbils. Amb la utilització de tiosulfat sòdic va ser possible extraure el 70% de l'or contingut en les PCI's, utilitzant dissolucions de composició 0,12M de ti

The use of electrochemical techniques in the selective recovery of gold from a solution containing thiosulphate, ammonia, and copper, obtained from the leaching of printed circuit boards from mobile phones using ammoniacal thiosulphate, are shown in this work. First, cyclic voltammetry tests were performed to determine the potential of electrodeposition of gold and copper, and then, electrowinning tests at different potentials for checking the rates of recovery of these metals were performed. The results of the cyclic voltammetry show that copper deposition occurs at potentials more negative than −600mV (Ag/AgCl), whereas the gold deposition can be performed at potentials more positives than −600mV (Ag/AgCl). The results of electrowinning show that 99% of the gold present in solutions containing thiosulphate and copper can be selectively recovered in a potential range between −400mV (vs Ag/ AgCl) and −500mV (vs Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, 99% of copper can be recovered in potentials more negative than −700mV (vs Ag/ AgCl)

The use of electrochemical techniques in the selective recovery of gold from a solution containing thiosulphate, ammonia, and copper, obtained from the leaching of printed circuit boards from mobile phones using ammoniacal thiosulphate, are shown in this work. First, cyclic voltammetry tests were performed to determine the potential of electrodeposition of gold and copper, and then, electrowinning tests at different potentials for checking the rates of recovery of these metals were performed. The results of the cyclic voltammetry show that copper deposition occurs at potentials more negative than −600mV (Ag/AgCl), whereas the gold deposition can be performed at potentials more positives than −600mV (Ag/AgCl). The results of electrowinning show that 99% of the gold present in solutions containing thiosulphate and copper can be selectively recovered in a potential range between −400mV (vs Ag/ AgCl) and −500mV (vs Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, 99% of copper can be recovered in potentials more negative than −700mV (vs Ag/ AgCl)