Efficient recovery of precious metal based on Au–S bond and electrostatic interaction

Abstract

A water soluble thiourea-modified polyethylenimine copolymer was synthesized and utilized as a precious metal recovery material with high efficiency (16.0 mmol_Au g_polymer⁻¹). The recovery mechanism was clearly revealed, and the Au–S bond between thiourea and Au^III and the electrostatic interaction between amino groups and AuCl₄⁻ were involved.