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Repurposed: Ground Circuit Board Waste Can Clean Up Toxic Metals

ckwu writes "Researchers in Hong Kong have found a beneficial new use for the electronic waste from discarded cell phones, computers, and other gadgets. Ground up into a powder, printed circuit boards from these products could sponge up another type of pollution — toxic heavy metals in water. The researchers processed the nonmetallic fraction of waste circuit boards into a powder and found that it adsorbed metals like copper, lead, and zinc more efficiently than commercially available industrial adsorbents."

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  1. Re:That's the clever part, by HairyNevus · · Score: 4, Informative
    For those scratching their heads:

    Skinner: ahh, but as it turns out the lizards where a god send since they've eaten all the pigeons.
    Lisa: Isn't that a little short sighted, what happens when where up to our ears with lizards?
    Skinner: Ah, well we shall simply release wave after wave of Chinese needles snakes.
    Lisa: then what about the snakes?
    Skinner: We simply import gorillas who will eat all the snakes.
    Lisa: Well what happens when we're up to our ears in gorilla's!
    Skinner: Ah that's the beauty of the thing, come winter the gorillas will freeze to death.

    --
    You were critically hit for no damage. The bruise will look nice, and maybe the scars will make good party talk.