High-efficiency gold recovery by additive-induced supramolecular polymerization of β-cyclodextrin

Huang Wu, Yu Wang, Chun Tang, Leighton O. Jones, Bo Song, Xiao-Yang Chen, Long Zhang, Yong Wu, Charlotte L. Stern, George C. Schatz, Wenqi Liu () and J. Fraser Stoddart ()
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Huang Wu: Northwestern University
Yu Wang: Northwestern University
Chun Tang: Northwestern University
Leighton O. Jones: Northwestern University
Bo Song: Northwestern University
Xiao-Yang Chen: Northwestern University
Long Zhang: Northwestern University
Yong Wu: Northwestern University
Charlotte L. Stern: Northwestern University
George C. Schatz: Northwestern University
Wenqi Liu: University of South Florida
J. Fraser Stoddart: Northwestern University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Developing an eco-friendly, efficient, and highly selective gold-recovery technology is urgently needed in order to maintain sustainable environments and improve the utilization of resources. Here we report an additive-induced gold recovery paradigm based on precisely controlling the reciprocal transformation and instantaneous assembly of the second-sphere coordinated adducts formed between β-cyclodextrin and tetrabromoaurate anions. The additives initiate a rapid assembly process by co-occupying the binding cavity of β-cyclodextrin along with the tetrabromoaurate anions, leading to the formation of supramolecular polymers that precipitate from aqueous solutions as cocrystals. The efficiency of gold recovery reaches 99.8% when dibutyl carbitol is deployed as the additive. This cocrystallization is highly selective for square-planar tetrabromoaurate anions. In a laboratory-scale gold-recovery protocol, over 94% of gold in electronic waste was recovered at gold concentrations as low as 9.3 ppm. This simple protocol constitutes a promising paradigm for the sustainable recovery of gold, featuring reduced energy consumption, low cost inputs, and the avoidance of environmental pollution.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36591-0

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