Removing Gold Using Nitric Acid
- Get protective gear. Be sure to wear a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves. Chemicals and acids can...
- Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Nitric acid is a clear liquid chemical commonly used for various industrial,...
- Put your circuit boards in a glass container. The container should preferably be Pyrex glassware or...
How do I recover gold from circuit boards?
Gold recovery and refining on a small scale can be performed in the back yard with some specialized equipment and some widely available chemicals. Instructions. 1. Remove the gold bearing connections and edges from scrap circuit boards using pliers and a strong back and forth motion to break the gold "fingers" from the edge of circuit boards ...
How to get precious metals off of circuit boards?
Method 2 of 2: Removing Gold Using Fire
- Get protective gear. Be sure to wear a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves to avoid breathing in the fumes released by the burning plastic.
- Get a metal bin or tray, and put the circuit boards into it. Break the boards into smaller pieces so they burn faster.
- Light the boards on fire. ...
- Put out the fire. ...
What electronics have the most gold in them?
What appliances have the most gold in them?
- Jumbo old video-playing devices like VCRs and Sony Betamax players.
- Old camcorders – the bigger the better.
- Early digital still cameras – again, the bigger the better.
Where is gold located on a circuit board?
List of Ceramic CPU's that have the Highest Gold Content
- Intel 186 / 286 / 386 / 486 / Pentium / Pentium Pro / i860 / i960
- Cyrix 486 / 586 / MII
- IBM 486 / 586 / 686
- Motorola 68000 / 88000 series
- NEC & Toshiba MIPS series: R4000 / R8000 / R10000 / R12000
- AMD 286 / 386 / 486 / K5 / 29000 series
- IDT Winchip C6 / 2A
- DEC Alpha
- HP PA-7000 & PA-8000 RISC series
- SUN SPARC / UltraSPARC / Super SPARC RISC series
Is it worth extracting gold from electronics?
If you intend to conduct large-scale gold recovery from electronics, then yes, it is worth it. However, if it is a small-scale gold recovery, then you'll get meager profits. The process of physically disassembling gold from electronics and extracting gold isn't a walk in the park.
What's the easiest way to extract gold from circuit boards?
0:004:04How to Extract Gold from a Circuit Board | Earth Lab - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is concentrated nitric acid really nasty stuff especially when it's eaten up it'll dissolveMoreThis is concentrated nitric acid really nasty stuff especially when it's eaten up it'll dissolve practically all the metals from the circuit boards but it won't affect the gold.
How much gold is in a circuit board?
The gold content present in the PCBs depends on the type of PCB used in each device, and may vary between 140 and 700 g of gold per tonne of PCB. The gold content found in these PCBs is much higher than the average levels found in gold ore, which is currently 5-10 g of gold per tonne of ore.
How do you get gold out of circuit boards without chemicals?
For now, let's use the salt and vinegar method. To get started, add the sea salt into a beaker, pour the vinegar in, and stir until the salt dissolves. Vinegar and salt form a powerful, but non-corrosive stripping solution needed to etch out the tiny gold particles on the computer parts.
Can you melt gold off electronics?
The Canadian researchers' alternative is a solution of acetic acid and an oxidant — a nontoxic technique to dissolve gold, which is stripped from circuits in about 10 seconds, leaving intact copper, nickel, iron, and other metals in printed circuit boards.
What is the easiest way to recover gold from electronics?
1:369:14How To Mine Gold From Electronics | World Wide Waste - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAvailable industrial chemicals. Next machines pump the mixture into a filter press to separate theMoreAvailable industrial chemicals. Next machines pump the mixture into a filter press to separate the liquids from the solids. This blue fluid contains a high concentration of copper tin and other less
How do you melt gold out of circuit boards?
Strip out the boards In another container, mix two parts hydrochloric acid and one part weak hydrogen peroxide (a concentration of three per cent). Pour this mixture over the circuit boards so they are completely submerged. Wait for a week, giving the vessel a stir every day with a glass or plastic rod.
How do I know if my circuit board has gold?
1:309:23How To Identify GOLD, Brass, Painted Gold, etc. In Electronic Circuit BoardsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if there's a solder connection. Then it's going to be gold there it's certainly not going to beMoreAnd if there's a solder connection. Then it's going to be gold there it's certainly not going to be gold paint.
Which circuit boards have the most gold?
Here are some “golden age” items that have large printed circuit boards and therefore, comparatively large quantities of gold.Jumbo old video-playing devices like VCRs and Sony Betamax players.Old camcorders – the bigger the better.Early digital still cameras – again, the bigger the better.More items...•
How to remove gold from circuit board?
The gold can also be removed via a process known as reverse electroplating, where a chemical solution and electricity are used to draw the gold off of the circuit board. Finally, gold can be removed by dissolving it in a harsh chemical bath, then drained and purified.
Why do electronic circuit boards use gold?
Printed circuit board s inside electronic devices use a small amount of gold on key connections because of its conductivity and other properties. While many circuit boards are simply discarded, some companies--and even individuals--have turned to gold reclamation to strip circuit boards of their small quantities of gold.
What is the best way to recover gold?
Chemical baths are some of the most common form of gold reclamation, and while dangerous for individuals to perform, provide the best results. Purifying the Gold. Once gold has been scraped or dissolved from a circuit board, it must be purified and melted down before it can be sold.
What happens when a circuit board is pulled out of a computer?
When a circuit board is first pulled out of a computer for gold reclamation, it is covered in miscellaneous circuitry and devices that have no gold in them. They must be stripped from the board before the gold can be recovered.
Can gold be melted down?
If the gold was scraped off of the circuit boards by hand, it can be filtered for any non-gold particulates and melted down. If, however, the gold was removed in a chemical bath, a lengthy filtration process is required before the gold is pure enough to melt down. This purification process involves running the gold through a series ...
How to get gold flakes out of circuit board?
Pour the mixture through a coffee filter and into another glass container. The gold flakes will be left behind. Pour the remaining circuit-board bits into a deep plastic tray filled with water. Save any pieces with remaining gold for re-dipping. Pour the water through the filter to collect any gold dust, and flush the flakes with water.
How to make a circuit board?
Place your circuit boards in a glass vessel. In another container, mix two parts hydrochloric acid and one part weak hydrogen peroxide (a concentration of three per cent). Pour this mixture over the circuit boards so they are completely submerged. Wait for a week, giving the vessel a stir every day with a glass or plastic rod.
How much gold has Murchison extracted?
lectronics-technology engineer Josehf Lloyd Murchison claims he has extracted up to $1,600 (£980) worth of gold in three months of collecting junk electronics -- and you can too. "Surprisingly, chemical recovery of gold takes almost no skill," he says.
How to melt gold in a bowl?
Add some borax (available from chemists); this enables the gold to be melted at a temperature lower than 1,064C. When the borax begins to soften, add the gold flakes. Heat until the flakes melt into a gold bead. Now let it cool before chipping the gold out of the re-solidified borax.
Where is the gold on a phone?
In phones, most of the gold is in the SIM card, the main board and the smaller components on the back of the LCD screen. Use a magnet to separate all gold-plated steel parts, as you need a different process to extract it. "Older electronics have more gold in them," says Murchison.
How to remove gold from computer parts without chemicals?
In this way, how do you remove gold from computer parts without chemicals? Using white vinegar, sea salt, and hydrogen peroxide to recover gold foils from scrap computer circuit card fingers. Then bleach to dissolve and vitamin C to precipitate.
How to remove precious metals from circuit boards?
Place radio components in a glass jar, fill it with nitric acid and heated. Secondly, how do you remove precious metals from circuit boards? Method 1 Removing Gold Using Nitric Acid. Get protective gear. Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Put your circuit boards in a glass container. Pour the concentrated nitric acid into ...
How to make a circuit board?
Steps. Get protective gear. Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Put your circuit boards in a glass container. Pour the concentrated nitric acid into the glass container with the circuit boards. Stir the mixture using a glass rod until the contents become fluid in form. Drain the nitric acid from the mixture. Click to see full answer.
How to get gold flakes out of a circuit board?
A week has passed and it is time to collect your gold flakes and dust from your cleaned fingers and circuit boards, after a week the acid darkens and with a stir the flakes of gold can be seen floating around in the pot.#N#Pouring the acid into a coffee filter the acid passes through the filter leaving the gold behind, save the acid do not dump it down the drain.#N#Next dump the remaining fingers and circuit boards into a deep plastic tray and add water, sort out the cleaned of gold parts, put the cleaned parts in the waist and save the un-cleaned parts for re-dipping.#N#After you have sorted the circuit board parts pour the water off through the coffee filter and flush with methyl hydrate to clean. Since the methyl hydrate is 99.9% methyl alcohol it cleans and dries the gold flakes better and faster than water, water will cling to the gold flakes and give you a false weight.
How to make gold from scraps?
Step 1: Extracting Gold From Scraps. Collect any gold-containing metal scraps to which you have access, including jewelry, computer processors, old telephone wiring or gold tooth crowns. Keep in mind that outdated electronics are likelier to produce parts with a high enough level of gold to make the procedure worthwhile.
How to recover gold from a gold flakes?
There are basically two methods of melting gold flakes and dust to recover gold available to the average person, the mercury method called Gold-Mercury Amalgam with its obviously toxic by-products and the Borax Method.#N#I do not recommend the mercury method it works but it is extremely toxic for generations.#N#The Borax Method is a technique of artisanal gold mining, with its basis in the principle that borax reduces the melting point of all minerals, including precious metals like gold. The melting point of gold is 1063 ˚C, which is a higher temperature than can be obtained by cheap torches and burners. By adding borax to the heavy mineral concentrate, the melting point temperature decreases, allowing people to melt gold out of their concentrate and salvage. By using borax, no mercury flour is produced, and gold recovery increases.
How to make a clay bowl with gold?
Heat your clay bowl, don’t worry if the bowl cracks or splits , add borax to the hot bowl, when the borax melts add the gold flakes and more borax then heat until you get a nice bead of gold, let it cool and weigh to see how much you lost. Ask Question.
What is the melting point of gold?
The melting point of gold is 1063 ˚C, which is a higher temperature than can be obtained by cheap torches and burners. By adding borax to the heavy mineral concentrate, the melting point temperature decreases, allowing people to melt gold out of their concentrate and salvage.
How to clean gold fingers?
Put the gold fingers and clean circuit boards in the coffee pot, in another container mix two parts muriatic acid and one part hydrogen peroxide and add to the coffee pot until it just covers the gold fingers and wait a week giving it a stir daily .
What are some things that are filled with gold?
How about putting it in your pockets instead of someone else’s pocket? Laptops, phones, cameras, and the like are filled with gold plated circuit boards even printers and scanners have gold, silver, and copper, even platinum in them. Gold is a precious, conductive, and pliable metal that retains a stable value better than many commodities.
Step 1: Prepare the computer parts
The best parts to use in this experiment are printed circuit boards, motherboards, central processing units, random access memory chips, drives, and other internal modems.
Step 2: Clean and dry the parts
Clean the computer parts under a tap of running water to remove any dust or residual plastic—air-dry the components before beginning the process of extracting gold.
Step 3: Prepare the stripping solution
In this experiment, we will use a mixture of sea salt, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. Others elsewhere might recommend using toilet bowl cleaner and hydrogen peroxide to do the same job.
Step 4: Connect the apparatus to an air pump
Take another glass beaker and insert a tube connected to an air pump. This setup will help to circulate oxygen and remove unwanted gas from the stripping solution.
Step 5: Mix the stripping solution with the e-waste
After placing the e-waste into the beaker, add the stripping solution of vinegar and salt into the beaker. Do this slowly, ensuring that all the computer parts are fully submerged in the solution.
Step 6: Keep an eye on the apparatus
After 24 hours, check on your experiment and stir the solution. You might notice that the solution has turned light blue, but more importantly, you will start to see tiny gold foils floating around.
Step 7: Strain out the gold foil
It is now time to separate the gold foil from the solution. If you soak the electronic parts for a couple of days, you will notice that the salt, vinegar, and peroxide solution gets thicker. Don’t worry; you will still be able to fish out the tiny strips of gold extracted from the computer parts.