Lithium Universe Ltd. (LU7) has achieved a breakthrough in critical metals recycling, with laboratory results demonstrating that its licensed tertiary diamide ligand technology can recover over 99 per cent of gallium and near-complete levels of platinum from electronic waste.
The test work, conducted in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, expands the potential application of the company’s Gold and Copper Diamide Extraction (GCDE) technology beyond its original focus on gold and copper.
By adjusting process parameters, such as hydrochloric acid concentration and ligand dosage, researchers demonstrated that the diamide technology can be tuned to selectively precipitate different high-value target metals.
Gallium and platinum were targeted for their importance and value in a variety of applications. Gallium is essential for semiconductors, 5G telecommunications, and defence applications. Concentrated e-waste fractions can contain up to 35 per cent gallium, valued at approximately US$237 per kilogram. Laboratory test work yielded greater than 99 per cent recovery.
Meanwhile, platinum is a high-value metal utilised in catalysts, electronics, and emerging hydrogen fuel cells. Selected circuit boards contain up to 40 grams per tonne of platinum, priced at roughly US$1,780 per ounce. Testing demonstrated 99 to 100 per cent recovery.
LU7 CEO Iggy Tan said: “The original attraction of this technology was its ability to selectively pull gold out of a very complicated mixture of metals.
“Under one set of conditions, it strongly prefers gold. Under stronger acidic conditions, our research shows it can also precipitate gallium and platinum.
“The opportunity we are now investigating is whether the diamide can become a broader critical-metals recovery platform.
“Rather than recovering gold and leaving the remaining value behind, could we recover the gold first, adjust the solution, then selectively recover gallium, platinum or potentially other valuable metals from the same feed?”
Because the tertiary diamide ligand is reusable, the technology offers a potential pathway to lower reagent consumption while unlocking value from complex global e-waste streams.
The company said the work remains at the laboratory stage and further test work and process development would be required to determine whether this chemistry can ultimately form part of a commercially viable e-waste recovery process.