Optimization of the Electrochemical Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Electronic Waste Using Response Surface Methodology

The rapid growth of electronic waste can be viewed as both an environmental threat and an attractive source of minerals that can reduce the mining of natural resources. In this work, response surface methodology was used to optimize an electrochemical process for the extraction and recovery of base metals from electronic waste using a mild oxidant (Fe³⁺). Through this process, the effective extraction of base metals can be achieved, enriching the concentration of precious metals and significantly reducing environmental impacts and operating costs associated with waste generation and chemical consumption. The optimization was performed using a bench-scale system specifically designed for this process. Operating parameters such as flow rate, applied current density, and iron concentration were optimized to reduce the specific energy consumption of the electrochemical recovery process to 1.94 kWh per kilogram of metal recovered.