Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) advances gold and copper extraction from e-waste

Lithium Universe has established a structured development program to commercialise its Gold Copper Diamide Extraction (GCDE) process, acquired under an exclusive licence from the University of Edinburgh.

The initiative targets the recovery of gold and copper from electronic waste using a hydrometallurgical process that avoids the high temperatures and energy intensity typical of conventional smelting.

The program is designed to support smaller-scale applications while meeting growing demand for sustainable e-waste recycling and to provide a potential pathway for lower capital intensity industrial operations.

Highlights

• Developmental plan for GCDE technology commercialisation
• Comprehensive review of historical research, reports, and datasets
• Sourcing of high-volume e-waste feed materials
• Optimisation of particle size, density, and flowability characteristics
• Completion of washing, milling, and dewatering testwork
• Comparative evaluation of HCl/H2O2 leaching versus aqua regia systems
• Optimisation of gold precipitation and ligand recovery circuits
• Development of copper precipitation and electrowinning flowsheet
• Pilot-scale commercialisation program

The GCDE process halide-leaches pulverised e-waste at room temperature to produce soluble gold and copper chloride complexes, after which a diamide compound selectively precipitates gold from the acidic leach solution, followed by copper recovery using 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA) and subsequent electrowinning or chemical stripping.

The diamide ligand forms a protonated structure that interacts with tetrachloroaurate ions to precipitate gold as a yellow solid, while other metals remain in solution.

Recovered gold is refined to high-purity metal while the diamide reagent is recycled for multiple reuse cycles, and copper is subsequently recovered from the remaining solution and processed into metallic form.

The development program begins with a comprehensive review of historical technical reports and datasets generated at the University of Edinburgh.

This review will evaluate gold and copper extraction performance, including reagent consumption, precipitation behaviour, solids-liquid separation, and ligand recycling, and identify technical gaps for further work.

Optimal high-volume e-waste feed materials will be sourced, focusing on printed circuit boards, telecommunications waste, and other precious-metal-bearing streams.

Detailed physical characterisation studies will assess particle size distribution, density, and flowability to support downstream processing, while washing, milling, and dewatering optimisation will ensure leaching kinetics are maximised and reagent losses minimised.

Comparative testing between HCl/H2O2 and conventional aqua regia systems will determine preferred leaching methods, while gold precipitation and copper recovery circuits, along with studies on reagent stability, filtration performance, and pilot-scale integration, will be further refined to support commercial scalability.

Lithium Universe CEO Iggy Tan said:

“We are extremely encouraged by the commercial potential of the GCDE technology and the development pathway now established with the University of Edinburgh, Significant additional metallurgical and engineering test work remains to optimise leaching conditions, reagent recycling, ligand stability, filtration performance, copper electrowinning and overall process scalability. This work is aimed at improving recoveries, lowering operating costs and advancing the technology toward pilot-scale commercial validation.”

Lithium Universe will integrate pilot-scale findings with commercialisation plans, including feedstock supply strategies, product offtake, techno-economic assessments, and environmental management.

These efforts aim to establish a sustainable, scalable platform for e-waste metal recovery while complementing the company’s lithium refinery operations in Québec and Texas.

The program positions LU7 to contribute to circular supply chains for gold, copper, and critical materials, reflecting a methodical approach to advancing innovative recycling technologies.

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