[Applause] Gold is an important metal throughout
Gold is an important metal throughout
Gold is an important metal throughout history we have adored it this jewelry
history we have adored it this jewelry
history we have adored it this jewelry and valued it is currency nowadays we
and valued it is currency nowadays we
and valued it is currency nowadays we are increasingly relying on it in some
are increasingly relying on it in some
are increasingly relying on it in some medicines and notably and circuitry in
medicines and notably and circuitry in
medicines and notably and circuitry in the contacts of modern electronics and
the contacts of modern electronics and
the contacts of modern electronics and you can eat gold it even has an e number
you can eat gold it even has an e number
you can eat gold it even has an e number but where does gold come from gold is
but where does gold come from gold is
but where does gold come from gold is found naturally in rocks and doors but
found naturally in rocks and doors but
found naturally in rocks and doors but only in a few places around the world
only in a few places around the world
only in a few places around the world around 3000 tons of gold was mined in
around 3000 tons of gold was mined in
around 3000 tons of gold was mined in 2017 with China the US and Australia
2017 with China the US and Australia
2017 with China the US and Australia being the major contributors even then
being the major contributors even then
being the major contributors even then gold is found alongside other metals and
gold is found alongside other metals and
gold is found alongside other metals and in really low concentrations you can
in really low concentrations you can
in really low concentrations you can only get up to a gram of gold out for
only get up to a gram of gold out for
only get up to a gram of gold out for every ton of rock mind this is a problem
every ton of rock mind this is a problem
every ton of rock mind this is a problem we go to extraordinary lengths to get
we go to extraordinary lengths to get
we go to extraordinary lengths to get the gold to each letter 90% of the
the gold to each letter 90% of the
the gold to each letter 90% of the world’s gold comes from mining processes
world’s gold comes from mining processes
world’s gold comes from mining processes that reach crushed rocker or with large
that reach crushed rocker or with large
that reach crushed rocker or with large quantities of notoriously toxic cyanide
quantities of notoriously toxic cyanide
quantities of notoriously toxic cyanide though these processes may allow for the
though these processes may allow for the
though these processes may allow for the separation of gold from the rock through
separation of gold from the rock through
separation of gold from the rock through accidental leakages and blatant dumping
accidental leakages and blatant dumping
accidental leakages and blatant dumping of hazardous material cyanide reaches
of hazardous material cyanide reaches
of hazardous material cyanide reaches local water supplies this has a
local water supplies this has a
local water supplies this has a devastating effect on the local
devastating effect on the local
devastating effect on the local environment for wildlife and workers in
environment for wildlife and workers in
environment for wildlife and workers in fact the use of cyanide makes gold the
fact the use of cyanide makes gold the
fact the use of cyanide makes gold the most toxic metal to produce we also use
most toxic metal to produce we also use
most toxic metal to produce we also use incredible amounts of energy and
incredible amounts of energy and
incredible amounts of energy and resources mining and processing tons of
resources mining and processing tons of
resources mining and processing tons of rock to get just a few grams of gold out
rock to get just a few grams of gold out
rock to get just a few grams of gold out to get gold from crushed rock into gold
to get gold from crushed rock into gold
to get gold from crushed rock into gold ring requires many energy intense steps
ring requires many energy intense steps
ring requires many energy intense steps including physical mining crushing
including physical mining crushing
including physical mining crushing storing transporting separating refining
storing transporting separating refining
storing transporting separating refining and many many more metal production in
and many many more metal production in
and many many more metal production in general demands 10% of the world’s
general demands 10% of the world’s
general demands 10% of the world’s energy supply and also produces
energy supply and also produces
energy supply and also produces significant quantities of carbon dioxide
significant quantities of carbon dioxide
significant quantities of carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions mining
and other harmful emissions mining
and other harmful emissions mining processes in general also produce a lot
processes in general also produce a lot
processes in general also produce a lot of waste and I’d like to give you a
of waste and I’d like to give you a
of waste and I’d like to give you a sense of scale of this this is the
sense of scale of this this is the
sense of scale of this this is the superpet gold mine formerly Australia’s
superpet gold mine formerly Australia’s
superpet gold mine formerly Australia’s largest opencast gold mine producing 28
largest opencast gold mine producing 28
largest opencast gold mine producing 28 tonnes of gold a year
tonnes of gold a year
tonnes of gold a year this single mine is one and a half
this single mine is one and a half
this single mine is one and a half kilometres wide three and a half
kilometres wide three and a half
kilometres wide three and a half kilometers long
kilometers long
kilometers long and two and a half kilometers deep this
and two and a half kilometers deep this
and two and a half kilometers deep this can be hard to visualize for a single
can be hard to visualize for a single
can be hard to visualize for a single mind so here’s some perspective you
mind so here’s some perspective you
mind so here’s some perspective you might be able to make out a single speck
might be able to make out a single speck
might be able to make out a single speck on one of the roads in that pit that’s
on one of the roads in that pit that’s
on one of the roads in that pit that’s actually a dumper truck like this one
actually a dumper truck like this one
actually a dumper truck like this one that transports crushed rock from one
that transports crushed rock from one
that transports crushed rock from one site to the next how big is that dumper
site to the next how big is that dumper
site to the next how big is that dumper truck well here’s a worker standing next
truck well here’s a worker standing next
truck well here’s a worker standing next to one these mines are vast think of how
to one these mines are vast think of how
to one these mines are vast think of how much gold we get out of these mountains
much gold we get out of these mountains
much gold we get out of these mountains compared to how much rock we’ve had to
compared to how much rock we’ve had to
compared to how much rock we’ve had to displace the vast majority of which is
displace the vast majority of which is
displace the vast majority of which is simply disposed of in fact it can take
simply disposed of in fact it can take
simply disposed of in fact it can take 20 tons of rock to make that one gold
20 tons of rock to make that one gold
20 tons of rock to make that one gold ring this is the severe and detrimental
ring this is the severe and detrimental
ring this is the severe and detrimental impact we have on the environment given
impact we have on the environment given
impact we have on the environment given our reliance on gold it is important for
our reliance on gold it is important for
our reliance on gold it is important for us to look to other sources of the metal
us to look to other sources of the metal
us to look to other sources of the metal and for more efficient metal recovery
and for more efficient metal recovery
and for more efficient metal recovery processes so we need a better solution
processes so we need a better solution
processes so we need a better solution from one tonne of rock you can get up to
from one tonne of rock you can get up to
from one tonne of rock you can get up to a gram of gold but you can get 300 grams
a gram of gold but you can get 300 grams
a gram of gold but you can get 300 grams of gold from one tonne of mobile phones
of gold from one tonne of mobile phones
of gold from one tonne of mobile phones as there’s much more gold in circuitry
as there’s much more gold in circuitry
as there’s much more gold in circuitry than rocks it’s much more efficient and
than rocks it’s much more efficient and
than rocks it’s much more efficient and environmentally friendlier to recycle
environmentally friendlier to recycle
environmentally friendlier to recycle gold from waste electrical and
gold from waste electrical and
gold from waste electrical and electronic equipment called we instead
electronic equipment called we instead
electronic equipment called we instead of – think of how many phones you’ve had
of – think of how many phones you’ve had
of – think of how many phones you’ve had in your lifetime nothing of what’s
in your lifetime nothing of what’s
in your lifetime nothing of what’s happened to those phones when you got a
happened to those phones when you got a
happened to those phones when you got a new one maybe you gave it to someone
new one maybe you gave it to someone
new one maybe you gave it to someone else to use
else to use
else to use maybe he threw it in the bin maybe is in
maybe he threw it in the bin maybe is in
maybe he threw it in the bin maybe is in that drawer at home but how many were
that drawer at home but how many were
that drawer at home but how many were recycles in the EU less than 20% of we
recycles in the EU less than 20% of we
recycles in the EU less than 20% of we is recycled the vast majority of waste
is recycled the vast majority of waste
is recycled the vast majority of waste electronics are sent straight to
electronics are sent straight to
electronics are sent straight to landfill so you might be thinking well
landfill so you might be thinking well
landfill so you might be thinking well how much gold is actually in my phone
how much gold is actually in my phone
how much gold is actually in my phone what’s the point in recycling it the
what’s the point in recycling it the
what’s the point in recycling it the phones we value so dearly have around 30
phones we value so dearly have around 30
phones we value so dearly have around 30 milligrams of gold in them are about 85
milligrams of gold in them are about 85
milligrams of gold in them are about 85 pence worth this might not seem like a
pence worth this might not seem like a
pence worth this might not seem like a lot so if I was to gather everyone’s
lot so if I was to gather everyone’s
lot so if I was to gather everyone’s phone in from this audience of 700
phone in from this audience of 700
phone in from this audience of 700 people or so then we’d have 21 grams of
people or so then we’d have 21 grams of
people or so then we’d have 21 grams of gold are about six hundred and thirty
gold are about six hundred and thirty
gold are about six hundred and thirty times worth enough to buy two-thirds of
times worth enough to buy two-thirds of
times worth enough to buy two-thirds of a new iPhone 10
this might not seem like the best deal
this might not seem like the best deal so how about this globally 40 million
so how about this globally 40 million
so how about this globally 40 million tons of weed is sent to landfill every
tons of weed is sent to landfill every
tons of weed is sent to landfill every year this is an urban goldmine in gold
year this is an urban goldmine in gold
year this is an urban goldmine in gold alone this is worth nine billion Pines
alone this is worth nine billion Pines
alone this is worth nine billion Pines if we were to include all the metals and
if we were to include all the metals and
if we were to include all the metals and waste electronics we sent to landfill
waste electronics we sent to landfill
waste electronics we sent to landfill this goes up to 22 billion pounds and
this goes up to 22 billion pounds and
this goes up to 22 billion pounds and this is only set to rise as the sales of
this is only set to rise as the sales of
this is only set to rise as the sales of electronic products and therefore amount
electronic products and therefore amount
electronic products and therefore amount of electronic waste is increasing every
of electronic waste is increasing every
of electronic waste is increasing every year so recycling goes from we really as
year so recycling goes from we really as
year so recycling goes from we really as a golden opportunity we can minimize our
a golden opportunity we can minimize our
a golden opportunity we can minimize our impacts on the environment by maximizing
impacts on the environment by maximizing
impacts on the environment by maximizing the use of metals we already have but we
the use of metals we already have but we
the use of metals we already have but we has many metals in it and gold is not
has many metals in it and gold is not
has many metals in it and gold is not the most abundant one end there how do I
the most abundant one end there how do I
the most abundant one end there how do I get gold out of your phone this is where
get gold out of your phone this is where
get gold out of your phone this is where my research comes in I’m a chemist and I
my research comes in I’m a chemist and I
my research comes in I’m a chemist and I investigate chemical methods for the
investigate chemical methods for the
investigate chemical methods for the recovery of metals without having to use
recovery of metals without having to use
recovery of metals without having to use toxic reagents I said metals are found
toxic reagents I said metals are found
toxic reagents I said metals are found in low concentrations and alongside
in low concentrations and alongside
in low concentrations and alongside other metals so we need some way to
other metals so we need some way to
other metals so we need some way to separate and concentrate them one common
separate and concentrate them one common
separate and concentrate them one common way of doing this is to use a technique
way of doing this is to use a technique
way of doing this is to use a technique called pyro metallurgy which essentially
called pyro metallurgy which essentially
called pyro metallurgy which essentially involves melting the metals out of your
involves melting the metals out of your
involves melting the metals out of your products but this requires a lot of
products but this requires a lot of
products but this requires a lot of energy high temperatures and could be
energy high temperatures and could be
energy high temperatures and could be really highly polluting one more
really highly polluting one more
really highly polluting one more efficient and cleaner way of separating
efficient and cleaner way of separating
efficient and cleaner way of separating metals on an industrial scale is to use
metals on an industrial scale is to use
metals on an industrial scale is to use a technique called solvent extraction
a technique called solvent extraction
a technique called solvent extraction which has two liquids we can dissolve
which has two liquids we can dissolve
which has two liquids we can dissolve all of the metals out of your phone and
all of the metals out of your phone and
all of the metals out of your phone and into an acidic water solution this gives
into an acidic water solution this gives
into an acidic water solution this gives us a mixture of metals including iron
us a mixture of metals including iron
us a mixture of metals including iron and copper platinum and gold which is
and copper platinum and gold which is
and copper platinum and gold which is the most valuable to recycle the other
the most valuable to recycle the other
the most valuable to recycle the other liquid is an oil which sits on top of
liquid is an oil which sits on top of
liquid is an oil which sits on top of the water and doesn’t mix into it much
the water and doesn’t mix into it much
the water and doesn’t mix into it much like olive oil sits on balsamic vinegar
like olive oil sits on balsamic vinegar
like olive oil sits on balsamic vinegar I design molecules called extractant
I design molecules called extractant
I design molecules called extractant that transport the metal of choice out
that transport the metal of choice out
that transport the metal of choice out of the water and into the oil if we can
of the water and into the oil if we can
of the water and into the oil if we can do this selectively then we can separate
do this selectively then we can separate
do this selectively then we can separate gold from the mixture this is a sort of
gold from the mixture this is a sort of
gold from the mixture this is a sort of molecular level gold panning
molecular level gold panning
molecular level gold panning we’re sifting through all the metals in
we’re sifting through all the metals in
we’re sifting through all the metals in the mixture and only collecting the one
the mixture and only collecting the one
the mixture and only collecting the one that we want so how do we get selective
that we want so how do we get selective
that we want so how do we get selective gold separation
gold separation
gold separation every metal in the water has a certain
every metal in the water has a certain
every metal in the water has a certain size likes to form certain shapes has a
size likes to form certain shapes has a
size likes to form certain shapes has a certain charge basically has a preferred
certain charge basically has a preferred
certain charge basically has a preferred chemistry for example gold likes to form
chemistry for example gold likes to form
chemistry for example gold likes to form flat squares platinum likes to form
flat squares platinum likes to form
flat squares platinum likes to form octahedral
octahedral
octahedral I designed molecules that can
I designed molecules that can
I designed molecules that can discriminate between the metals based on
discriminate between the metals based on
discriminate between the metals based on these features bind to gold and only
these features bind to gold and only
these features bind to gold and only gold and transport it into the oil this
gold and transport it into the oil this
gold and transport it into the oil this selectivity is a bit like the child’s
selectivity is a bit like the child’s
selectivity is a bit like the child’s toy where you can’t get the round peg in
toy where you can’t get the round peg in
toy where you can’t get the round peg in the square hole my molecules are
the square hole my molecules are
the square hole my molecules are particularly efficient not only do they
particularly efficient not only do they
particularly efficient not only do they recognize gold squares they transport
recognize gold squares they transport
recognize gold squares they transport multiple at once as molecular at golden
multiple at once as molecular at golden
multiple at once as molecular at golden nuggets this gives us more metal outs
nuggets this gives us more metal outs
nuggets this gives us more metal outs from less commercial used we can then
from less commercial used we can then
from less commercial used we can then separate off the gold containing oil and
separate off the gold containing oil and
separate off the gold containing oil and treat it to give us back the gold we
treat it to give us back the gold we
treat it to give us back the gold we treasure in an overall more efficient
treasure in an overall more efficient
treasure in an overall more efficient and less damaging process compared to
and less damaging process compared to
and less damaging process compared to traditional mining methods this is what
traditional mining methods this is what
traditional mining methods this is what it looks like on the small scale in the
it looks like on the small scale in the
it looks like on the small scale in the lab we taped your mobile phone and
lab we taped your mobile phone and
lab we taped your mobile phone and dissolve it in the acidic water solution
dissolve it in the acidic water solution
dissolve it in the acidic water solution to get what we like to call mobile form
to get what we like to call mobile form
to get what we like to call mobile form solution for interest the supreme
solution for interest the supreme
solution for interest the supreme solution is 10 forms per liter we
solution is 10 forms per liter we
solution is 10 forms per liter we contact that mixture of metals with the
contact that mixture of metals with the
contact that mixture of metals with the colorless oil that contains the
colorless oil that contains the
colorless oil that contains the extracted molecules we mix the two
extracted molecules we mix the two
extracted molecules we mix the two liquids together and as those two
liquids together and as those two
liquids together and as those two liquids separate we see we see gold move
liquids separate we see we see gold move
liquids separate we see we see gold move from the lower mixture up into the oil
from the lower mixture up into the oil
from the lower mixture up into the oil achieving saturation we can then
achieving saturation we can then
achieving saturation we can then physically separate those two liquids
physically separate those two liquids
physically separate those two liquids and treats the oil and a couple of steps
and treats the oil and a couple of steps
and treats the oil and a couple of steps to give us back the gold metal so how
to give us back the gold metal so how
to give us back the gold metal so how does all of this fit into the bigger
does all of this fit into the bigger
does all of this fit into the bigger picture what we’re trying to do is help
picture what we’re trying to do is help
picture what we’re trying to do is help close the loop and help create what’s
close the loop and help create what’s
close the loop and help create what’s called a circular economy that means
called a circular economy that means
called a circular economy that means after going through all the effort of
after going through all the effort of
after going through all the effort of getting our metals in the first place
getting our metals in the first place
getting our metals in the first place instead of throwing our products away at
instead of throwing our products away at
instead of throwing our products away at the end of their lives we should be
the end of their lives we should be
the end of their lives we should be aiming to recycle as much as possible to
aiming to recycle as much as possible to
aiming to recycle as much as possible to make the most of the metals we already
make the most of the metals we already
make the most of the metals we already have to the benefit of the economy the
have to the benefit of the economy the
have to the benefit of the economy the environment and society know this might
environment and society know this might
environment and society know this might make it look like we’ve solved the
make it look like we’ve solved the
make it look like we’ve solved the problem we can get gold out of your
problem we can get gold out of your
problem we can get gold out of your phone and busted are many advantages to
phone and busted are many advantages to
phone and busted are many advantages to recycling metals and gold from we that
recycling metals and gold from we that
recycling metals and gold from we that are still some challenges we have to
are still some challenges we have to
are still some challenges we have to address we need to work with scientists
address we need to work with scientists
address we need to work with scientists and engineers to make sure we can deal
and engineers to make sure we can deal
and engineers to make sure we can deal with bulk volumes of ever more complex
with bulk volumes of ever more complex
with bulk volumes of ever more complex wastes we need to work with governments
wastes we need to work with governments
wastes we need to work with governments and businesses to make sure we have the
and businesses to make sure we have the
and businesses to make sure we have the info
info
info structure incentives and framework in
structure incentives and framework in
structure incentives and framework in place to be able to collect enough waste
place to be able to collect enough waste
place to be able to collect enough waste to process it and dismantle it
to process it and dismantle it
to process it and dismantle it efficiently because ultimately the value
efficiently because ultimately the value
efficiently because ultimately the value of what we recover has to be greater
of what we recover has to be greater
of what we recover has to be greater than the cost of recovering it we need
than the cost of recovering it we need
than the cost of recovering it we need to work together to actively choose to
to work together to actively choose to
to work together to actively choose to recycle we so that we can still have
recycle we so that we can still have
recycle we so that we can still have access to metals that don’t cost us the
access to metals that don’t cost us the
access to metals that don’t cost us the earth right back at the start I asked
earth right back at the start I asked
earth right back at the start I asked where does gold come from
where does gold come from
where does gold come from I’ll repose the question where should
I’ll repose the question where should
I’ll repose the question where should gold come from the answer is we because
gold come from the answer is we because
gold come from the answer is we because together we are golden thank you
”
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