Recycling Metals from Spent Screen-Printed Electrodes While Learning the Fundamentals of Electrochemical Sensing

A laboratory experiment in which students recycle silver and platinum selectively from spent screen-printed platinum electrodes is described. The recovered silver in solution is used to show its spontaneous redox reaction with a copper sheet. The recovered platinum is electrodeposited onto a screen-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2018-05, Vol.95 (5), p.847-851
Main Authors: González-Sánchez, María-Isabel, Gómez-Monedero, Beatriz, Agrisuelas, Jerónimo, Valero, Edelmira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Analytical chemistry
Chemical engineering
Chemistry
College Science
College students
Conservation (Environment)
Education
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
Environmental chemistry
Fume cupboards
Gases
Graduate studies
Hands on Science
Hydrogen peroxide
Laboratories
Laboratory Experiments
Learning
Materials science
Metallurgy
Metals
Organic chemistry
Physical chemistry
Platinum
Recycling
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Science Laboratories
Silver
Students
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate Study
Waste disposal
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Summary:A laboratory experiment in which students recycle silver and platinum selectively from spent screen-printed platinum electrodes is described. The recovered silver in solution is used to show its spontaneous redox reaction with a copper sheet. The recovered platinum is electrodeposited onto a screen-printed carbon electrode to develop a sensor for hydrogen peroxide quantification in a commercially available hair lightener. The experiment is designed for a 3 h laboratory period and can be adapted for upper-division undergraduate education, graduate education, or even research students in electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or physical chemistry laboratories. It allows students to train in adequately handling strong acids, working in fume hoods, and neutralizing acid gases. It also allows one to teach the basics of metal recycling and enables students to learn the fundamentals of electrochemical sensing. The experiment also helps to raise student awareness of waste disposal problems and how recycling can help to reduce the amount of waste that we create.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00345