New Boy

[MooseMan]

Hello all.

I'm Tony from the UK, I have an interest in refining PMs from E waste.

I have a lot of learning to do yet I know, but I currently sit on around 100kg of stripped components, CPUs, ram, boards etc almost all from 80s/90s kit so high gold bearing. I'm talking about old RISC, early Pentium etc. and old audio/video/telecom stuff.

I'm hoping i can absorb enough from you old hands on this forum to get to the stage where I can attempt to process this stuff myself, or if it seems too involved perhaps move it on as is before I waste too much money and time. I already have to many hobbies!!!

 

[Martijn]

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for taking your time and reading before jumping in.

A great way to get familiar with gold recovery and refining is to get gold foils from clean-cut RAM fingers. Study the Cupric Chloride leach a.k.a. Acid Peroxide or AP.

Some links to help you get started:

https://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=796
https://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=28521In this one you can also find 'dealing with waste'
A very important part of refining with chemicals.


https://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=12914
https://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=19798
You tube is not a reliable source for info.
You don't need urea in refining e.g. (One thing we repeatedly have to debunk here because of youtube)

Learn how to safely handle chemicals, perform reactions and handle the toxic metal salts you are going to create.

Get some test tubes. Read Hoke's book. Start small, small mistakes, small losses, small mess to clean up.

Have a plan before you jump in, ask us here before attempting anything.

Have fun. Be safe.

Martijn.

 

[MooseMan]

Thank you so much for your detailed and helpful reply Martin, I will be reading and absorbing every bit of the info in the links you've provided.

I do have a tiny bit of a headstart in terms of chemicals as I work for a biotech company, so am familiar with lab use of chemicals and safe handling etc.

I also have a really basic metallurgy understanding, but from a long time ago now, so that will need a refresher!

I'm still collecting, stripping and segregating E waste, so whilst my initial interest is the obvious gold foils and all the stuff in the CPUs and pins, in time I'm hoping i can gain the knowledge to process it all properly.

In the meantime, lots of bedtime reading, thank you!

 

[MooseMan]

Thank you so much for your detailed and helpful reply Martin, I will be reading and absorbing every bit of the info in the links you've provided.

I do have a tiny bit of a headstart in terms of chemicals as I work for a biotech company, so am familiar with lab use of chemicals and safe handling etc.

I also have a really basic metallurgy understanding, but from a long time ago now, so that will need a refresher!

I'm still collecting, stripping and segregating E waste, so whilst my initial interest is the obvious gold foils and all the stuff in the CPUs and pins, in time I'm hoping i can gain the knowledge to process it all properly.

In the meantime, lots of bedtime reading, thank you!

Apologies, Auto correct changed Martijn to Martin.