From waste to resource: Hydrogen generation and antimicrobial activity of Ag-based photocatalysts recovered from biomedical waste

Electrocardiogram (ECG) disposable electrodes contain a substantial amount of silver (Ag), which can be extracted and recycled. Most current methods for recovering Ag from waste are expensive and environmentally harmful. This study investigated a sustainable chemical process for extracting Ag from discarded medical electrodes using a simple Cu(II) solution under moderately acidic conditions. Using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a three-level, full-factorial design, the optimized extraction conditions were determined as pH = 4.78, T = 80°C, [Cu(II)]₀ = 8.0 × 10⁻³ M, and [NaCl]₀ = 3.72 M. Under these conditions, a process efficiency approaching 100 % was achieved. Moreover, the recovery of metallic silver exceeded 85 %, even when using real matrices. (i.e., discarded ECG electrodes). As a result, the Ag-containing leachate solutions were utilized to synthesize silver-based materials with varying Ag content. These materials demonstrated (i) excellent photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production in aqueous solutions containing organic compounds and (ii) significant antipathogenic properties. In summary, effective Ag/TiO₂ photocatalytic materials with high efficiency for hydrogen production and antimicrobial activity were successfully prepared through a novel, sustainable, and cost-effective chemical recovery process of silver from discarded ECG electrodes.