A separation and recovery process of precious metals from E-waste was developed using chlorination. Release behaviors of metal elements from incinerated ash of spent printed circuit board were followed during the heat treatment under a chlorine gas stream. Capturing behaviors of volatilized chlorides were also followed when the chloride gases were supplied to the bed of carbon particles. Rate analysis was conducted for the release and capturing behavior of precious metals obtained by changing the treatment temperature and residence time. Gold and silver in the ash was completely released when heated for 1 hour at 1000°C. The total amounts of released gold and silver from incinerated ash were successfully recovered by adjusting the thickness of the bed of carbon particles at 800°C. The rate analysis for the release and capturing indicated that gold showed lower activation energies for both release and capturing reactions than those of silver.
