DNA Sequencing Chips

[davidbryanshell]

Hello Forum
I need some help in identifying some chips I have. I was wondering if anyone could identify the picture I have attached. They are used in a DNA research for sequencing DNA. They are used and then disposed of. They have 96 contacts and no pins. I think they have gold (plated?), palladium, and silver. Each one weighs 5 gm. When split open, they seem to be a fiber layer, a film the color of copper, a glassy layer and a plastic back. I have access to hundreds of pounds of these. I am needing suggestions on what would be the best process and the composition or yield of these.
Thank you
David
http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?mode=view&id=34196
http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?mode=view&id=34197

 

[davidbryanshell]

Another picture
http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?mode=view&id=34198

 

[g_axelsson]

Hello David and welcome to the forum.

The chip is built up with a plastic top with a cavity to let the tested fluid get in contact with the chip. Then a silicon chip (the glassy material) with sensors on one side. Then a circuit board with gold plated traces and a large copper surface below the chip.

Looking at the pictures I think I can see some hints of bond wires going from the gold plated tips of the traces and up onto the sensor side of the chip.

If you have hundreds of pounds then send a chip to an assayer and let them do an assay. Then try to find a refiner who want to buy the lot based on the assay.

If you want to learn the trade and refine the chip yourself, then I suggest you look into how BGA chips are processed. That journey will take a long time but contain a lot of fun and heavy learning.

Without knowing for sure I would expect the gold content to be in the vicinity of 1 g per kilo, but that is a pure guess.

Göran

 

[g_axelsson]

PM sent a couple of days ago...

Göran