Processing old computer/phone parts/electronics for gold!!!

[headbut]

ive also attempted this, working at a certain very large retailer that takes ink/toner cartridges and computer eectronics for recycling i see literally thousands of chips every month so i decided to get some....problem i occured was in the second wash it seemed to eat the gold flakes aswell....so i have put it on the backburner for now but completed one batch and it definately works just takes time that i really dont have at the moment but very simple chemistry

I believe that Aqua Regia dissolves gold ,so you need to process it back to solid , by whatever means

 

[HeadsUp]

If you guys ever see very old antique telephone exchanges they used platinum or palladium contacts on the relays and switches inside

i think up until around 1960 or so.

another place is stoves up to around 1965 also used white metals in the thermostats , i have a big handful of the stuff i collected when i was a young'er fella

 

[Next1m8]

So I scored these today for free I have about 20 cpu processors, many ram thingies I was wondering if anyone has any experience proccesing them for gold?

 

[Tathradj]

There is heaps of video's on Youtube and it involves some nasty stuff.
You need a bucket load of them for about 0.5 grams of gold.
But in saying so, Save it all over a couple of years.

 

[Next1m8]

I might try reverse electroplating

 

[Sa_bogan]

its better to save them up and sell them on ebay - then you can buy your gold

 

[thedigger]

A friend processed 550 grams of gold tips, by using lead cathode in sulphuric acid it dropes the gold off to the bottom,end result 1gram of gold.

Regards Frank

 

[Next1m8]

Wow 1 gram that sucks

 

[Tathradj]

The gold plating on these things is only a few microns thick.
Did you know that gold can be so thin, you can see through it.
Space helmets are coated in it. 8)

 

[Next1m8]

I'm working with old computer pieces they had much more heavy plating

 

[Chewy]

Have crack at it Next1m8. Only 1 way to find out how you will fair. Suck it and see.

 

[Metamorphic]

Its simply not cost effective......it will cost you more in materials and time than what you can retrieve.

The old saying, if it costs you 5grams to extract 1gram your gonna go hungry pretty soon.

Great for hobbyists i guess, but not for profit.

Many have thought of this before you.

Cheers

 

[Next1m8]

I see where you're commimg from, I'll try as a hobby wasn't really too worried about making money from it

 

[SWright]

G'Day All

Mostly this is done by the extremely poor in paces like rural China and India. Their governments are trying to close them down as the reagents are very very dangerous and the operators do not live long. Also they dispose of their leavings in the local environment like streams and gutters and they end up poisoning all around them. My advice is don't do it. Not even the big electronic firms do this with all their waste components.

Araluen

 

[Next1m8]

I was going to do reverse electrolysis, only reagent there is salt water

 

[yobskin]

You need to see a doctor!!! Hahahaha you got it bad.... :lol:

 

[Next1m8]

Doctor said I'm too far gone for help

 

[stoyve]

You need to see a doctor!!! Hahahaha you got it bad.... :lol:

And that comment comes from someone who knows

 

[Next1m8]

 

[yobskin]

Ba-hahahaha