Recovering metals (IMAGE)

Iowa State University

Recovering metals

Caption

New technology developed by Iowa State engineers uses heat and oxidation to recover pure and precious metals from electronic waste. It works in two ways -- it can bring the most reactive components to the surface, forming stalagmite-like spikes (left); and it can leave the least reactive components in the core surrounded by metal-oxide spikes, creating a "ship-in-a-bottle" structure (right).

Credit

Photo courtesy of Martin Thuo/Iowa State University.

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