7th May 2022, Kathmandu
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has begun the extraction process of gold from old mobile phones.
NAST has devised a scheme to extract several valuable metals from old abandoned mobile phones.
Research is being done at the lab of Dr. Rabindra Dhakal, the head of Nast’s technology faculty, for this purpose. According to Dhakal, the study group includes Dr. Saurabh Bhattarai, another Nast researcher who earned his Ph.D. in Korea.
According to Dhakal, the research team is presently developing the materials needed to extract gold from critical metals contained in mobile phones.
“It’s old-fashioned to claim that gold can be recovered from old mobile phones,” Dhakal added. As a result, we are currently in the process of constructing the essential material.
Gold, silver, copper, and other valuable metals can be found in older mobile phones.
“Because gold is one of Nast’s priorities, only the appropriate material is being prepared to extract gold,” he explained. Making materials requires creating compounds such as molecules and emulsions.
Dhakal stated that, despite the fact that such compounds have been manufactured in other nations, Nast is planning some new developments.
‘Such compounds include hazardous gas,’ he explained. As a result, we are attempting to create eco-friendly materials. The material building work will be finished in the next months.
Of course, how much labor does the manufactured material do, and how efficient is it? It may take a little longer since considerations like costs must be resolved. This task will then be done.
Dhakal stated that, despite having studied and prepared the material, Nast would not engage in the business of extracting gold from old mobile phones.
“We’re going to make the stuff.” Nast will not begin operations. Based on our findings, entrepreneurs in Nepal will be able to carry this process forward.
When gold is produced from a gold mine, one gram of gold is normally taken from a ton of raw material, according to Dhakal. However, according to one research, a ton of outdated mobile phones may yield 28 grams of gold.