E-WASTE RECYCLING:
GCDE Technology
Highlights
- Acquired global rights to University of Edinburgh’s gold and copper extraction hydro-met
technology (Gold Copper Diamide Extraction GCDE process) - GCDE Technology selectively extracts gold and copper from electronic waste
- Uses simple, recyclable organic compounds to selectively extract gold and copper
- Ability to selectively extract gold and copper with minimal impurities
- Advantages over conventional high temperature smelting
- Devices, phones, laptops and printed circuit boards
- E-waste generation estimated at 93.5 Mt by 2030 of which 80% ends up in landfill
- Approx 200–350 grams of gold in one metric tonne of e-waste
- Amount of gold in e-waste is 100 times higher than in natural gold ore
- Gold content is worth US$46,320 pt e-waste (300g/t @ US$4,800 /oz)
- Copper in e-waste ranges from 50–270 kg per tonne
- Copper content is worth US$2,064 pt e-waste (160 kg/t @ US$12,900 /t)
- Complements LU7’s silver extraction technology from PV recycling
Learn more about this exciting technology with this 90sec explainer.
The Scale of the E-Waste Problem
Driven by rapid technological turnover and consumer demand, e-waste has become the fastest-growing hazardous solid-waste stream globally. E-waste generation is on track to rise from 62 Mt in 2022 to about 82 Mt by 2030 — a ~32% increase. However, only about 20% of e-waste is formally recycled using environmentally sound practices, while the remainder is dumped or sent to developing countries for crude processing that releases toxic pollutants.
GCDE Technology
The University of Edinburgh’s innovation centres on a class of organic molecules known as tertiary diamide ligands; small, reusable compounds that act like selective “magnets” for valuable metals such as gold. When electronic waste (for example, old circuit boards) is dissolved in a mild acid, the result is a solution containing many metal ions; gold, copper, tin, iron, and others. Separating these metals has traditionally required multiple chemical steps involving harsh reagents and toxic waste.
“Our strategy is built around two complementary divisions, each addressing critical gaps in the global energy transition. The first is our core lithium refining business, where we are focused on closing the lithium conversion gap in North America through the development of merchant lithium carbonate refineries. This remains our primary focus, underpinned by strong market fundamentals and a clear pathway to commercialisation.
Alongside this, we have established a Precious Metals Recovery Division targeting high-value metals from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and electronic waste. This division is driven by a simple rationale: the energy transition is not only about producing new materials, but also recovering valuable metals already in circulation.
With growing volumes of end-of-life solar panels and e-waste, there is a clear opportunity to apply advanced, low-impact technologies to efficiently and sustainably extract silver and other metals. Importantly, this initiative does not detract from our lithium strategy. It is being advanced in parallel using a disciplined, modular approach with limited capital intensity at the early stage. If successful, it provides significant upside optionality—either as an integrated business within the Company or as a standalone entity that could be spun out to unlock shareholder value.”
