But while it might be hard to see much monetary value in an old Nokia 3310, for the Scottish university researchers involved in a pioneering project, they are a glittering prize. With Indian culture prizing high quality gold jewellery for dowries and traditional craft and jewellery-making techniques identified as ‘at risk’, it was hoped the new extraction process might solve a raft of problems. “Yet the average mobile phone contains over 40 different metals, including copper, gold and palladium. “The European Chemicals Society has said if we continue to mine precious metals such as copper and silver at the current rate, they’re likely to run out in the next 100 years. “Our precious metals are running out,” she stresses.

Source: The Herald October 13, 2024 10:33 UTC