Many electronic devices contain gold, which is an excellent conductor and corrosion-resistant metal. If you have old and obsolete electronics at home, you can extract gold from them and use it for other purposes. However, extracting gold from circuit boards is not an easy task, and it requires some knowledge of chemistry and proper safety measures.
The first step of extracting gold from circuit boards is to dissolve all metals from the circuit boards, except for gold. This is done using concentrated nitric acid, which dissolves practically all the metals from the circuit board except for gold. Once the metals are dissolved, the gold needs to be separated from all the other undesirable metals.
The next step is to dissolve the gold. Because gold is unreactive, a strong acid is needed to dissolve it. This requires a mix of very concentrated and strong acids, called aqua region or royal water. This mixture can even dissolve gold if done correctly, but it can also burn right through your skin if you’re not careful.
Once the gold is dissolved, it needs to be separated from the other metals. This can be done by pouring it through a filter to separate the gunk from the good stuff. At this point, you may end up with a green liquid instead of gold, but don’t worry; the next step is where the magic happens.
The chef’s secret ingredient is sodium metabisulfite. When added to the green liquid, it adds a couple of electrons to the gold, turning it back into gold metal. After some stirring, the gold should appear, and you can extract it by panning it out.
After some time, you will end up with a pile of gold mud, which may not look like much at first. However, when heated to over a thousand degrees, it will turn into a nugget of pure gold. This is an exciting and rewarding process that requires patience and attention to safety measures.
In conclusion, extracting gold from circuit boards is possible with the right knowledge and equipment. However, the process involves strong acids and potentially lethal chemicals, so it’s important to take proper safety measures and follow the recipe carefully. With some effort, you can turn your pile of obsolete electronics into a valuable source of gold.