Hi all I don't post much but that doesn't mean I dont follow other posts and processes. Yes read Hokes book, twice and refer to it when I forget or make a mistake. This I do not have an answer for.
Situation, Stripped several pounds of gold plated pins (new old stock) with sulfuric acid process. Cleaned out the powder and washed with distilled water and HCL. Filtered the black powder and added to pot. Fresh HCL added and brought to a boil, Nitric added drop by drop till mixture turns that nice yellowy clear color. Let it cool, filtered any left over debris, washed down the filter with distilled water, then added an equal volume of distilled water to the liquid. (Note, I have done this several times in the past) This is where it goes odd...
The liquid turns milky yellow, and a white powder starts forming on the bottom of the beaker. Attempt to filter again same result but white powder also in the filter. Testing shows gold in solution still, but not sure what this white chloride looking stuff is. I thought maybe silver chloride? but why would it only show up after I added distilled water? Yes I checked twice that it is distilled water in my container, I am careful about cross mixing containers and even spray bottles.
Question is then what could this white powder be?
Am I safe to add SMB or should I wait and try and filter all the powder out?
Should I try another process?
This is my final lot from this batch of pins, the rest went smoothly and yielded good results. I clean everything between batches, All chemicals and distilled are fresh, no more than 6 months old.
Any assistance and thoughts are welcome.
Thank you
Situation, Stripped several pounds of gold plated pins (new old stock) with sulfuric acid process. Cleaned out the powder and washed with distilled water and HCL. Filtered the black powder and added to pot. Fresh HCL added and brought to a boil, Nitric added drop by drop till mixture turns that nice yellowy clear color. Let it cool, filtered any left over debris, washed down the filter with distilled water, then added an equal volume of distilled water to the liquid. (Note, I have done this several times in the past) This is where it goes odd...
The liquid turns milky yellow, and a white powder starts forming on the bottom of the beaker. Attempt to filter again same result but white powder also in the filter. Testing shows gold in solution still, but not sure what this white chloride looking stuff is. I thought maybe silver chloride? but why would it only show up after I added distilled water? Yes I checked twice that it is distilled water in my container, I am careful about cross mixing containers and even spray bottles.
Question is then what could this white powder be?
Am I safe to add SMB or should I wait and try and filter all the powder out?
Should I try another process?
This is my final lot from this batch of pins, the rest went smoothly and yielded good results. I clean everything between batches, All chemicals and distilled are fresh, no more than 6 months old.
Any assistance and thoughts are welcome.
Thank you