Is it worth extracting gold from electronics?

Friend, if you‘re wondering whether it‘s worthwhile to extract gold from discarded electronics, the answer really depends on the volume you‘re able to process. For large-scale recyclers with tons of e-waste, gold recovery can certainly provide profits and reduce waste. But for the average person with a few devices, the costs and risks likely outweigh the potential payout. Let me walk you through the details so you can make an informed decision.

Just How Much Gold is in E-Waste?

The exact amount varies based on the type and age of the electronics, but certain components can contain surprisingly high concentrations of gold. Here are some numbers to put it into perspective:

• Older CPU processors – up to 0.4 g of gold each
• RAM memory sticks – 1-5 g of gold per kg
• Cell phone circuit boards – 0.02-0.2 g of gold each
• Laptop circuit boards – up to 28 g of gold each
• LCD monitors – up to 280 g of gold each

Compare that to gold ore from mines, which typically contains just 5-10 g of gold per ton of ore! So electronics can be 10-100 times more concentrated.

Here‘s a quick table summarizing gold yields from various e-waste sources:

With gold currently priced around $1,860 per ounce, that‘s some serious precious metal potential in our gadgets!

Why Use Gold in Electronics?

You‘re probably wondering – why do manufacturers put gold in electronics anyway?

The answer is that gold has unique properties that make it very useful in electronics:

• Excellent conductivity – Gold efficiently conducts electricity.
• Resistance to corrosion – Gold doesn‘t rust or tarnish over time.
• Ductility – Gold can be drawn into very thin wires or foil.
• Stable connections – Gold doesn‘t get brittle for heat or vibration resistance.

Most electronics contain gold plating of 24 karat (24K) purity, which is 99.9% pure gold. Lower karat alloys with more silver or copper have lower conductivity and durability.

Evaluating Profits with Fluctuating Prices

With gold prices constantly fluctuating, the potential profitability of extracting gold from electronics is always changing. Let‘s look at some historical gold prices:

As you can see, prices have increased over 6x in the past two decades! So the same amount of reclaimed gold is worth far more now. This volatility means it‘s essential to evaluate current prices when considering investing in e-waste processing.

DIY Gold Extraction Processes

If you‘re determined to try extracting gold from electronics yourself, you‘ll need to get familiar with some chemical processes.

Acid Leaching

One common approach is acid leaching using aqua regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitric acid (HNO3). This can dissolve metals like gold into solution. But it‘s dangerous! Be sure to use a fume hood, gloves, goggles, and proper hazardous materials disposal.

Here‘s a simple acid leaching process:

1. Prepare scrapped electronics components. Remove solder, pins, and coatings.

2. Mix 3 parts HCl to 1 part HNO3 to create aqua regia.

3. Submerge prepared scraps in the acid solution for 1-2 weeks.

4. Filter out dissolved metals through coffee filters or filter paper.

5. Cement out gold using iron or zinc dust.

6. Refine filtered gold powder to increase purity.

Cyanide Leaching

Cyanide leaching uses sodium cyanide (NaCN) or potassium cyanide (KCN) solutions to form stable gold-cyanide complexes to dissolve gold. While very effective, cyanide is extremely toxic and hazards must be managed carefully!

Small-Scale Separations

For hobbyists, it‘s best to maximize your scrap gold yield using these techniques:

• Acid wash in HCl or nitric acid to selectively dissolve metals
• Melt soldered items to remove lead and tin
• Incinerate circuit boards and ash valuable metal particles
• Use a shaker table to separate heavy gold particles

Is Large-Scale Recovery Viable?

For professional e-waste recycling firms equipped to handle large volumes, recovering gold and other metals can definitely be profitable. Here are some key considerations:

• Over 50 million tons of e-waste are generated globally each year. That number is rising rapidly as electronics consumption grows, meaning more potential gold supply.

• Large shredders and gravity systems can process tons per day. Automating separating and leaching allows efficient high-volume gold extraction.

• Economies of scale make costs of materials, labor, and waste management lower per unit of gold recovered.

• Specialized techniques like electrolysis, ion exchange, and biosorption can enhance profits.

• Established companies have existing e-waste collection networks and smelting partners.

So for serious players in the e-waste processing industry, gold recovery is likely a lucrative opportunity. But hobbyists should think twice!

My Take as an Enthusiast

As someone who enjoys tinkering with vintage electronics, I‘ll admit I‘ve dabbled in trying to reclaim gold from old computer parts. While it‘s fun as a hobby and I‘ve refined some minuscule gold flakes, the returns hardly justify the costs of chemicals. I‘ve found it‘s generally better value to refurbish and resell working retro components for collectors rather than scrapping for precious metals. But for those with the resources to take on large volumes of e-waste, the gold is certainly there for the taking!

In summary friend, gold extraction is likely not worth it for small-scale hobbyists but can be viable for big recycling businesses. I hope breaking down the facts and science helps you decide if prospecting e-waste for profit is right for you! Let me know if you have any other questions.