Fine metal recovery from electronic scrap - Don't throw it in the bin!

Prospecting Australia

Help Support Prospecting Australia:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
AtomRat

AtomRat

Art
Supporting Member
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
5,146
Reaction score
5,985
Location
Katazone, VIC
Hi guys, does anyone else here do metal recoveries from electronic scrap? I have done it a few times now, a slow and chemical process.
Feel free to ask questions if you like.

Please check these lists before throwing out general household items!!

If anyone would like to help me out, I collect / want / need:

Scrap electronics: ANY PC's or PC cards / RAM, laptops, hard drives, CPU's, cd-dvd roms, PC cards, phone exchange motherboards, mobile phones, mobile phone batteries and SIM cards, breakers, switches, relays, industrial controllers, integrated controllers ( IC's ), monolithic capacitors

Other scrap I am collecting for fine metal recovery:

General: X-rays, keyboards, wrist watch batteries or similar (dry cell), dental plates ( gold plated ), gold leaf, gold plated jewelry

Vehicle: catalytic converters, component sensors ( oxygen sensor and most other sensors ), hybrid car sensors and parts ( NiMH batt, motor and generator ), audio connections and stereos, alloy rims, breakers, switches, relays, Harley engine blocks

Other: ANY aluminium scrap ( for re-smelting and home projects ), any copper, any brass, hospital fixer solutions, photo colour bleach

:D :D :D
 
May I ask if you pay for these items? Many of these items have high recovery value, and most can be found in recovery yards if you intend on processing them yourself.
 
Most people throw this stuff right in the bin. I would only be paying if it were boxes of the stuff, and clean, theres no value without quantity of boards and items. It is merely to stop the amount of these items ending up in landfill and letting the public know there is somewhere to take these into if they want. How many PC's and mobile phones have you thrown into the bins over the years? I know I have thrown a few before I started recycling myself. I run around the 'hard rubbish' collecting these items as well, it is hard work.

For example: It took me 200 RAM board fingers, that I have to individually cut off with tin snips (it can take an hour just for this), then go through the chemical process (2 days, let alone making the acids needed as well(another 1 more day)), then to the crucible for smelting. After 3 days work, I would end up with only 0.5 grams of gold dust from the RAM boards.

I know many people don't know the other items can be recycled, so I will always ask for them, and for free. I would only buy boxes, as mentioned, if the person had 'cleaned' up the boards themselves, like taking copper to the scrap yard with no plastic or silver solder on it. Otherwise it is not worth the purchase at all.

I can pick up, or you can drop off items to my house ( Yarra Valley ) or other locations I can supply all around VIC

There are mobs that buy it all yes, but they have a factory for it, I am at home using a mini lab, so I would not pay unless its clean and large quantity. The gold on the boards is mostly 14 carat.
 
At the risk of diverting this post catalytic conertors brass copper etc have excellent values and would frown upon anyone seeking financial gain for four their own purposes from accepting items from the uninformed. I ran and worked in metal recovery and have a strong desire for the public to gain fair value and restitution for items of value. Most in the industry are dealing with integrity.
 
Reeks, 0.5 grams from 200.

Goldtarget, please ellaberate, to me it seems ive said something wrong by asking this? Or am I getting confused with your reply.

I dont even mind sharing the process, the way I see it is that a lot goes into landfill of the rare elements that cause jungle, wildlife and humanity issues all around the world. I just want to do my part and I simply see it as a hobby as well. If I lived in SA I would be cashing in cans all day.

I not only scrap but recycle and reuse metals at home with my foundry, alloy and brass mostly, and I smelt, sand mold and machine small engines ans any parts I want. I plan to make a blast furnace for steel as well. I spend a lot more in my hobbies than what I gain in return. Consider me an at home backyard scientist / eco / hobbyist engineer and prospector.
 
You gotta wonder at what time in the future will it become economical to mine our garbo dumps for resources (pre sorting). In think we should be sorting and separating and then storing resources in old open cut mines until they become economic commodities
 
Hey

I looked at doing this and the ROI is a giant non event.

By the time you gather up enough components to make a decent income, your house will be buried in computer *****, also you'll need to be beg, borrow and steal computer components but mainly pay for them

OK so you are already out of pocket for truck loads of computer stuff (yes TRUCK loads) and then the chemicals not to mention a crap load of time cutting and striping all the little shiney bits........and giving them a toxic chemical bath.

NO! my friends, don't be fooled into thinking that if you stuff your android tablet and iphone in a blender you'll end up with a couple of ounces of gold, more like enough so that a little fly (not a blowey but a tiny one) could cover it with one crap. 8)

Then, with luck on your side, you might not get some nasty affliction from the chemicals ( my affliction is to tell the truth)

Keep you electronics under lock and key........... then when you're done, crush them and plant them in a land fill......save a human ;)

Bazz
 
Oh wow, what fierceness and negative input, I wasnt expecting this. General chemical safety and common sense is all that is needed, and I cannot teach that, sorry. Truckloads and scrap everywhere? No, I made a crusher for plastics, then palletise it. The steel goes to scrap or bending a small sluice. Several controlled chemical enviroments are used and yes, after the work it IS worth it in the end and you will end up with ounces if you have the information correct. I am left with fibreglass and paper pcb boards, some conponents as my only true scrap. But you will end up with a mess if you cant organise it in a small process line or without pre planning. As mentioned, if you cant organise or fathom that handling chemicals is a safe process, then no it is not for you, and no one should not attemp it at thier own risk, sorry I did not mention this. I use mercury and a retort for amalgaming gold, is that going to start a row too?

I also create bio gas from wood for burners and fuel. Whats more dangerous, the weapon or the person holding the weapon. Lots of correct info and many months have gotten me to do these projects, you cant just do it no, and as I said, I cant teach common sense
 
I'm responding to items you listed under the headings general, vehicle and aluminum. Catalytic converters for example are worth taking to a recycle yardfor a cash payment for the public. These and other products you have listed you would like "donated" are worth something. I feel a bait and switch and as someone actively engaged in metals recovery I would like anyone reading this to understand they have a choice, give it away to be recycled, or take it to a recovery yard and get paid by a company who will also recycle it.
 
Thanks for that Goldtarget, I understand now, and yes everyone has the choice, just as they do to use thier home recycling bin, and I know many cannot be bothered even with using them correctly. I guess there will always be arguments about keeping the world clean, but hey, its just easier to not care and dump the rubbish in the bush and that solves the issue, right? No.

Take it to a scrapper or recycle yard if you dont want your future family to swim in trash.

I will also state, any chemicals must be neutralised and taken to a proper chemical disposalist, like oil and car batteries.
 
I m with you AtomRat,

There is only a finite amount of resources on the planet. Now that may last another million years but eventually coal will run out, commercially viable gold will dry up and oil reserves will be gone.

I can see what your after.

If you happy to throw out your items in general trash, like me, what's the issue giving them away to someone that's has use for them?

Good debate, that's what I like about this forum.
 
Retirement Stone said:
I m with you AtomRat,

There is only a finite amount of resources on the planet. Now that may last another million years but eventually coal will run out, commercially viable gold will dry up and oil reserves will be gone.

I can see what your after.

If you happy to throw out your items in general trash, like me, what's the issue giving them away to someone that's has use for them?

Good debate, that's what I like about this forum.
Click to expand...

Fair enuff. send items C.O.D. mbe.
 
Good work atom rat.

I know most of us don't have the time, energy or knowledge to do what you do. If any one is throwing this stuff out, it's great to have a home for it to go to.

Take a breath, Goldtarget, negative and snide comments like 'bait and switch' and 'most in the industry have integrity' that you make, I don't feel are warranted here. I come to this forum in particular to avoid these types of comments.
 
I think we have gotten off on the wrong foot here, with judgements being made a bit prematurely.

Atomrat has indicated that his recycling is carried out as a hobby, and cannot be compared to major industry and commercial recyclers, nor their "code of ethics". I have watched plenty of other backyard recylcers doing their thing, and as mentioned, the setup and purchase of equipment and chemicals will most likely outweigh any gains. This has more to do with recycling vs making a clear and consistent profit, netherlone covering costs. People have a choice on whether to donate or not, no one is forcing their hand. :)

Yes it is fair enough to make people aware of the catalytic converter scrapping value, but maybe a less accusational statement would have sufficed.

Good on you Atomrat for giving it a go, it would be an interesting hobby, but I don't think my missus would approve of a laboratory in the shed - some pretty nasty chemicals involved. ;)
 
As an advocate for the environment and good will I sincerely apologize for any offense caused. Recycling in all is forms should be carefully considered and acted upon, my comments are made from over a decade of working in metals recovery and championing best practice. I'll leave it to the mods to remove anything unsuitable including this. Atom rat on the face of it appears to have the best intentions as outlined in the responses and for that we all benefit in the long run.
 
All,

Its impossible to convey true intentions of a post without using emoticons. :)

I using them sparingly but sometimes needed when Im being sarcastic. :p

If im mad with you, you will know :mad:

Sometimes we read a post thats we perceive as an attack where that was not the intention of the poster. :8

Its like talking to your wife/husband. She/ he said this but I took it as that. :rolleyes:

Peace Out Homies :cool:
 
G'Day all

The subject you are talking about is one of interest to me in my work. I am currently studying the recycling of important or critical/strategic metals. These are mostly rare and highly valuable metals. The problem with trying to extract precious metals from electronics is that there are very small amounts involded, the processes are dangerous and result in dangerous waste products and the metals obtained are contaminated to such a degree that no refinery will accept them.

The Chinese in backyeard set ups attempt this and they are generally dead from toxic fumes quite quickly. On an industrial scale it has been shown to not be economic. Industry is now pushing for electronic components to be constructed such that the majority of the components containing pure elements can be taken apart and then recycled, primarily to reduce the contamination. There are hundreds of rare and often dangerous materials in modern electronics and if any of them end up alloying with gold or silver for example they cannot be safely refined.

My suggestion is you are better off going to a creek and panning, the exercise and fresh air is good for you and you get nice pure gold. Playing with elecronic boards and trying to get the gold etc out of them is neither profitable or safe otherwise it would be being done by industry and I would not have to write about it.

Araluen
 
Its all good guys, I didnt take goldtargets comment to be snide or rude, anyone can state their oppinion I feel. Anyway, back onto the subject again.

SWright: I extract fumes using my extracter hood to a big activated carbon filter I made, even the carbon. Enough work and knowledge will give you the amount needed with this scrapping, otherwise no one would be doing it. And I know the results and work and I am happy with the outcome. The impurities are sorted by chemical process and smelting, so you must have missed some info there. Any of the elements are completly seperated. I have never heard of a home refiner to not be able to sell thier product due to impurities. Like using mercury amalgams and smelting.

The dangerous waste you mention is from lazy people or foriegn countries that simply dont care. Most the chemicals for the process I make for the project, and they can be used several 10's of times before it is useless, then neutralised or turned back into another chemical for other projects. After 4 years of using my chemicals, I have not had to dispose any as of yet, another thing that reading chemistry will teach you, how to recycle and reuse. Vietnam still burn mercury on the same fire they cook their kids food on and never retort it, releasing it straight into the open air and streams, thats not me.

Please keep in mind I am an enviromentallist as well, I have made biogas (wood fueled) burners that release zero emissions, you can breath the exhast right in as it is so clean. Hopefully one day I can put that onto residential chimneys. Thats just one project. I dont release fumes, dump toxins or chemicals, and do every step as it would be done proffessionally as I can.

Please feel free to PM any questions though and I hope I can help ease your oppinions or even just let you know what happens on the other end. Have you ever had chemical / science use experience at school, lab or home?

Neutralizing chemicals means if you really wanted, you could drink it if done properly and be quite fine, but I wouldnt suggest attempting that of course
 

Latest posts

Top