Extracting gold from computer parts (Part 1)

TL;DR

Learn how to process gold from scrap computer parts, including the steps involved and the necessary chemicals and equipment needed.

Transcript

today we're gonna be processing a little bit of gold from scrap computer parts a lot of computer parts are plated with a small amount of gold and with a little bit of chemical treatment we can isolate it the profitability of this endeavor depends entirely on how cheap we can get the chemicals and the computer scrap the prices of the chemicals are p... Read More

Key Insights

• 💻 The profitability of gold recovery from computer scrap depends on the cost of the chemicals and the computer scrap itself.
• 🧑‍🏭 The amount of gold in computer scrap can vary greatly and depends on factors such as the manufacturer, year of production, and the specific part.
• 🏅 Separating the gold from circuit boards involves dissolving the metal that the gold is plated on, resulting in a mixture of gold flakes and debris.
• 🏅 Purifying the gold can be done using different methods, such as aqua regia or a combination of hydrochloric acid and bleach.
• 🏅 The final step of precipitating the gold involves using chemicals like sodium metabisulfite to obtain a gold powder.
• 🏅 It is important to conduct the gold recovery process in a well-ventilated area and take necessary safety precautions.
• 🏅 Filtering the gold solution during the process is crucial to remove impurities and collect the gold.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the key steps involved in recovering gold from scrap computer parts?

The three main steps are separating the gold from the circuit boards, purifying the gold, and precipitating the gold from a solution. Each step requires the use of specific chemicals and equipment.

Q: How does the separation of gold from circuit boards occur?

The gold is separated by dissolving the metal that the gold is plated on using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid. This results in a mixture of gold flakes and other debris.

Q: What methods can be used to purify the gold?

Gold can be purified using chemicals such as aqua regia (a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid) or a combination of hydrochloric acid and bleach. These methods selectively dissolve the gold and leave behind other materials.

Q: What is the final step in the gold recovery process?

The final step is to precipitate the gold from the solution and recover it as a gold powder. Sodium metabisulfite is commonly used for this purpose.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In this video, the content creator demonstrates the process of recovering gold from printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in scrap computer parts.

• The process involves three major steps: separating the gold from the circuit boards, purifying the gold, and precipitating the gold from a solution.

• Chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, and sodium metabisulfite are used in the process, and the gold is ultimately obtained as a powder.