"We have, in fact, managed to convert recycled gold into catalysts for green chemistry. The key is covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of highly structured, porous materials based on the organic compound tetrazine. This allows gold to be selectively recovered from electronic waste. Other metals, such as nickel and copper, are contained in this recovered material only in minimal quantities. COFs adsorb gold ions and facilitate their reduction, so that gold nanoparticles form in their structures. We can use these gold-loaded COFs as reusable catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into valuable organic compounds. Our approach shows that the upcycling of electronic waste has potential for sustainable applications in addition to the recovery of precious metals."
