I’ve started to process gold filled jewellery- 2 chains 18ct and 1 24ct. Everything went according to plan until I added the SMB. It redeliver it and I realised the nitric acid is still too much in the solution, I did not know about denoxing it b4 adding the SMB. Anyways, I started to add acoustic soda to decrease the ph to around 5, then tried adding SMB again, this time the solution went pale yellow and a white milky cloud formed at the bottom of the beaker. I’m stuck, what should I do to get my gold out if this solution?
Newbie, SMB and white cloud
- Thread starter venessa.o
- Start date
Help Support Gold Refining Forum:
You need a lot of learning. Caustic soda addition was a mistake. Take a sample of the white precipitate with liquid and add HCl see if it dissolves. If gold does not precipitate, continue with de-noxing
Last edited:
I'm a little confused on your starting material.... was it gold filled AND alloyed gold mixed together?
Which should I use to denox?
It only said hold filled when I bought it
Sulfamic acid.
You should be able to find it as a grout cleaner at a tile supply/hardware store. There is several different brands out there.
Welcome to us.
When using chemicals we stress a couple of things, amongst them using proper names for the chemicals one use.
One letter wrong may be the difference between success and failure, example. Sulfites can drop Gold, Sulfates can not.
Understanding the dangers around the chemicals we use is another one.
Now we want you to study so you understand why you are doing things and what to expect when doing things.
Here are some material for studies.
We ask our new members to do 3 things.
1. Read C.M. Hokes book on refining jewelers scrap, it gives an easy introduction to the most important chemistry regarding refining.
It is free here on the forum: Screen Readable Copy of Hoke's Book
2. Then read the safety section of the forum: Safety
3. And then read about "Dealing with waste" in the forum: Dealing with Waste
Suggested reading: The Library
Forum rules : https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/board-policy-this-should-be-read-by-everyone.4646/
