Scientists find $1.8m worth of gold in Swiss wastewater

11th October 2017

By: Bloomberg

  

Font size: - +

ZURICH – Switzerland’s gold refineries may want to consider starting a recycling programme.

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology estimate that about 43 kg of gold – worth about $1.8-million – passes through the country’s wastewater every year.

In some sites in the southern Ticino region, “concentrations of gold in sewage sludge are sufficiently high for recovery to be potentially worthwhile", the researchers said in a report published Tuesday. “This can be attributed to the presence of several gold refineries in the region.”

The study involving 64 water treatment plants also found about 3 000 kg of silver – equivalent to about $1.7-million – going to waste every year, much of it residue from the chemical and medical industries.

Switzerland is major gold-refining hub. About 70% of the world’s gold passes through the country’s refineries on average every year.

Edited by Bloomberg

Comments

The login details you entered is incorrect. Please try and re-enter your username and password. If you continue having problems, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za for assistance.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

R/€ = 20.3722 Change: -0.0592
R/$ = 18.8707 Change: -0.0631
Au 2232.75 $/oz Change: -0.28
Pt 908.05 $/oz Change: 0.00