Patent · US Expired

Biodegradation and recovery of gallium and other metals from integrated circuits

US5030425A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 1989
Grant dateJul 9, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/20
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for leaching selected metal compounds (e.g. gallium arsenide) from integrated circuits containing those compounds. The method includes placing the integrated circuits into a culture medium containing bacteria. Bacteria capable of leaching the metal compounds from the integrated circuits leach the metals from the integrated circuits. The bacteria preferably used will be ATCC 53921 and mutations and recombinants thereof. The integrated circuits are generally crushed to between 20 and -400 mesh before placement into the This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. F33615-87-C-5303 awarded by the United States Air Force. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.