Recovering Gold From Scrap

If you are looking for a hobby that not only recycles materials used in computer components and that can generate a little extra cash, then consider recovering gold from computer scraps. There are at least five different ways to recover gold from computers and phones, so you can pick the method that works the best for you.

Things You'll Need

• Window scraper Nitric acid SubZero powder Hydrochloric acid Car battery charger

Instructions

1. Recover gold from computer scraps using a window scraper. This method is safe, effective, and just about anyone can do it. All you have to do is use the window scraper to remove the gold found on the edges of connectors and fingers. The drawback of this process is that it is very labor intensive.

2. Dissolve non-gold materials in strong acids, like hydrochloric acid, to recover gold from computer components. This option, referred to as CBX, is quick and easy. However, it only allows you to recover gold on the edges of connectors. A lot of the gold and other precious metals are lost during this recovery process.

3. Use electrolysis to recover gold from the backs of CPU chips. For this option, you will need an electrolysis system and a car battery charger. Connect the charger cable to the CPU chip. Submerge the chip in the electrolysis bay, and turn on the battery charger. It will take between 30 and 90 minutes to abstract the gold from the chip. The gold will form flakes on the electrolysis plate, which you can scrape off and collect.

4. Try Aqua Regia. This process requires the use of strong acids like nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, or the use of a safer power chemical like SubZero. This process allows you to dissolve out more gold and to also purify the gold that you collect. This is a quick and easy process. However, you need to take extra safety precautions.

Resources

• Buy gold recovery materials from Short International.