Methanol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Media Using Gold Nanoparticles Recovered from Electronic Waste.

This study investigates the potential of using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesized from e-waste as electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), with the aim of applying them as an anode in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells (ADMFCs). The research addresses the pressing environmental challenge of e-waste disposal and explores the recycling of e-waste to obtain valuable materials for sustainable applications. Vulcan-supported gold nanoparticles (Au/C NPs) are synthesized from gold coatings recovered from Intel Pentium 4 processor pins, demonstrating the feasibility of e-waste as electrocatalyst precursors.

Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles from Gold Coatings Recovered from E-Waste Processors.

This work presents the synthesis of Au nanoparticles from gold coatings recovered from processor pins with minimal waste generation. The process consisted of four main steps: (1) physical recovery of pins, (2) recovery of gold coatings by acid digestion, (3) synthesis of HAuCl under mild conditions and, (4) synthesis of Au nanoparticles by the Turkevich method. The small dimensions of Au coatings allowed the synthesis of HAuCl with lower amounts of HCl and HNO than those used with aqua regia.

Hydrogen Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction Reactions on an OsRu-Based Electrocatalyst Synthesized by Microwave Irradiation.

This work presents an OsRu-based electrocatalyst synthesis, by a rapid and efficient method through microwave irradiation. The outstanding electrocatalyst shows a dual catalytic activity, demonstrating both: hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. The material is structural and morphologically characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, EDS, and SEM, indicating nanoparticulated Os and Ru metallic phases with a crystallite size of ∼6 nm, calculated by the Scherrer equation.

Effect of Swelling of Chemical Reagents and the Sulfuric-Chromic Acid Bath on Surface Texturizing of Poly(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene).

The surface modification of copolymer substrates of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) is significant for the electroplating industry. The sulfuric-chromic acid bath, used in the Electroless process, conditioning the ABS surface by selective oxidation of poly(butadiene) creating interconnected micro-holes, which allows an excellent mechanical adherence between the metallic film and the substrate. The chromium in its hexavalent form Cr(VI) is harmful to human beings and the environment being a carcinogenic element.