Phthalocyanine and Amine Cofunctionalized Porous Organic Polymer for Selective Gold Recycling from Electronic Waste
Rui Ding, Jitao Lü, Xiaomei Zhang
Abstract
Gold is a strategically important resource with a high economic value and diverse industrial applications. However, its limited natural reserves pose a risk of supply disruption. In this context, recovering gold from electronic waste (e-waste) could be a rational way to mitigate this shortage. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel, stable, amine-rich porous organic polymer (POP), termed Pc-HACP-POPs, and devoted it to gold extraction for the first time. Pc-HACP-POPs exhibited fast kinetics and exceptional selectivity toward gold, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.69 g/g. Remarkably, the material retained its performance over eight reuse cycles and successfully recovered gold from real e-waste. The theoretical calculations and dedicated experiments revealed that the electrostatic interaction between NH 3 + and AuCl 4 –, chelation of phthalocyanine rings, and the reducing capacity of amine groups jointly contributed to the selective and efficient gold recovery performance of Pc-HACP-POPs. This study highlights the potential of functionalized POPs in sustainable gold recovery from e-waste, offering a promising alternative to conventional extraction methods.