Sun Jun 15 00:15:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Indian Researchers Pioneer Green Method for Silver Recycling, Addressing Clean Energy Demand**

**Bangalore, India – June 15, 2025:** As global demand for silver surges due to its critical role in solar energy and electronics, researchers in Finland have developed an innovative and environmentally friendly method for recycling the precious metal. The breakthrough utilizes organic fatty acids found in common cooking oils, offering a safer alternative to traditional, toxic recycling processes.

Silver is essential for renewable energy production, particularly in solar panels, and in electronic devices like smartphones and laptops. India alone uses silver to generate 10% of its electricity from solar power, about 108 GW, and the country’s 1.4 billion mobile phone users contribute to the significant demand for the metal. Globally, an estimated 7,275 metric tons of silver are used annually for these purposes, but only a fraction is recovered from discarded electronics.

Experts predict a significant increase in silver demand as more countries adopt renewable energy and electric vehicles. Maria Smirnova, author of the 2025 ‘Sprott Silver Report,’ forecasts a 170% increase in demand, highlighting the critical need for efficient recycling solutions.

Current silver recycling methods often rely on harsh chemicals like strong acids and cyanide, posing environmental risks. Researchers Anze Zupanc, Prof. Timo Repo, and their team from Finland have addressed this issue with a novel approach using linolenic and oleic acids, commonly found in vegetable oils such as sunflower and groundnut oil. This method allows for the separation and recovery of silver from electronic waste without generating toxic byproducts.

The research team has demonstrated the effectiveness of their method in “urban mining,” retrieving silver from discarded computer motherboards. Their findings suggest that fatty acids could become the next generation media for treating precious multi-metal waste.

This breakthrough offers a promising solution for meeting the growing demand for silver in a sustainable manner, contributing to a cleaner and more circular economy. This is especially important for countries like India, where the government is pushing for renewable energy and reducing the carbon footprint.

*This article is part of “The View From India,” providing an Indian perspective on global affairs. Published by The Hindu.*

Read More