Work

Collaborative disassembly and optimized hydrometallurgical processing for sustainable gold recovery from automotive PCBs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • Some SMDs inhibit gold dissolution yield during the hydrometallurgical process • Chemical characterization of SMDs is key to maximizing recycling efficiency • Cobots enable efficient, sustainable disassembly for gold recovery • Factorial studies reduced hydrogen peroxide use, improving yield and lowering costs • AI and machine vision boost disassembly precision and circularity End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) represent a valuable secondary source of critical and precious metals, including those embedded in Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. With the ongoing transition toward electrified mobility, demand for these metals is expected to increase significantly. Sustainable materials management and circular economy principles require recovering and reintroducing these metals into the supply chain rather than allowing them to become waste. This study investigates the recovery of precious metals from automotive PCBs extracted from SEAT ICE vehicle dashboards. The compositional complexity of electronic components necessitates tailored treatment strategies to achieve maximum extraction efficiency. The disassembly of Surface Mount Devices (SMDs) was performed using a collaborative robot (cobot), reducing operator effort and costs while also promoting circular economy practices among car dismantlers. Hydrometallurgical processing, based on a patented method, was optimized using factorial experimental design to minimize chemical consumption and achieve a Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) approach. Two scenarios were compared: direct leaching of whole boards, yielding 45.3% gold recovery, and selective disassembly followed by leaching, achieving 80.5% recovery. These results demonstrate the added value of robotic disassembly and the potential for scalable, industrially relevant recycling practices that support sustainable and efficient end-of-life vehicle management.

Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification

DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2026.110714

Authors: Nicolò Maria Ippolito, Lorenzo Francesco Gandini, Marco Passadoro, Paolo Rosa, Francesco Vegliò

Institutions: University of L'Aquila, Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,910