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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Gold Intercalated in the Walls of Mesoporous Silica
Published on: July 9, 2015
Recycling e-waste into gold-loaded covalent organic framework catalysts for terminal alkyne carboxylation
Amin Zadehnazari1, Florian Auras2, Ataf Ali Altaf1
1Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Abstract:
The rising demand for gold requires innovative methods for its recovery from e-waste. Here we present the synthesis of two tetrazine-based vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks: TTF-COF and TPE-COF that adsorb gold ions and nanoparticles and catalyze the carboxylation of terminal alkynes. These covalent organic frameworks have low band gaps and high photocurrent responses. TTF-COF has an adsorption capacity toward aqueous Au(III) of 2440 mg g-1, and TPE-COF's Au(III) adsorption capacity is 1639 mg g-1. The gold source is metal flakes isolated from waste computer processing units. Of the gold present, > 99% is selectively captured by TTF-COF whereas only 5% of the Ni and 2% of the Cu in the solution is adsorbed. The Au-loaded covalent organic frameworks catalyze the carboxylation of terminal alkynes and are stable and reusable for six reuse cycles. Our covalent organic frameworks convert e-waste into a valuable catalyst for a useful green organic transformation.
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