Recovery of Gold Nanoparticle Waste

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to determine an effective method for recovering gold from nanoparticle waste. Nanoparticle research is a significant field of research; however, the use of nanoparticles in this research often creates an abundance of nanoparticle waste. The disposal of this waste has negative impacts on the environment. It also disposes large amounts of gold, an expensive material. Having an effective method for recovering the gold from the waste will be economically beneficial as it will save significant amounts of money by eliminating the need to frequently purchase new gold. Being able to recycle the nanoparticle waste will also allow research on gold nanoparticles to be more environmentally conscious. This poster will demonstrate the variety of methods we have looked at to recycle the nanoparticle waste we already have in our lab. The effectiveness of the different methods is examined by looking at the percentage of gold recovered.