PERTH: Lithium Universe Limited (ASX: LU7) has acquired exclusive global rights to a University of Edinburgh process that recovers gold and copper from electronic waste, a move the company says could reshape the recycling of discarded devices and circuit boards.
The patented Gold Copper Diamide Extraction (GCDE) process uses recyclable organic compounds to selectively extract gold and copper from shredded e-waste under mild conditions, avoiding the high temperatures and toxic chemicals of conventional smelting. “The diamide ligand functions as a smart, reusable precipitator for gold dissolved in acidic solutions derived from e-waste,” the company said, noting that copper is then recovered using pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid.
E-waste is projected to reach 93.5 million tonnes by 2030, with about 80 percent ending up in landfills. Printed circuit boards alone account for roughly 50 million tonnes annually, containing far higher concentrations of gold and copper than natural ores. One tonne of e-waste can yield 200–900 grams of gold — compared with 1–6 grams per tonne in gold mines — and 50–270 kilograms of copper.
Lithium Universe said the technology complements its silver extraction methods from photovoltaic panel recycling.
Under the licensing agreement, the University of Edinburgh will receive a 2–3 percent royalty on revenues, plus milestone payments tied to pilot plant development and commercial rollout.
Executive Chairman Iggy Tan said the initiative fits within the company’s broader energy transition strategy. “Alongside our lithium refining business, we have established a Precious Metals Recovery Division targeting high-value metals from solar panels and electronic waste,” he said.
Professor Jason Love of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry, one of the inventors of the GCDE process, said the partnership would accelerate commercialization. “There are clear synergies with Lithium Universe’s existing silver extraction technology and its strong chemical engineering expertise,” he said.
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