"One more" sulfuric de-plating cell

[Bertho]

I have been reading the different posts and watched videos on gold de-plating.
Unfortunately I could not use the typical fixed basket type since I had a big batch of flat electrical contact pins and they would just stack up and shield each other. Besides the pins I also had a box of miscellaneous gold plated mechanical parts from test equipment as can be seen in the pictures.

I first tested different PVC parts in concentrated sulfuric for two weeks. There was no change.
I then build a rectangular container and a rotating basket style. The basket is actually a piece of a large PVC pipe with drainage holes added to the sides and to the bottom cover. A copper ring near the bottom provides electrical contact through the copper shaft.
The end of the shaft near the grill motor actually rests in a "V" formed by two carbon brushes from an electric motor. The motor just lifts off. It drives the square end of the shaft.
The basket assembly can be picked up after lifting off the motor.
There was a lot of work building it but it worked properly after some initial adjustments.

The net result from processing the material in the pictures, 5.1kg, was a recovered 28.2g = 0.55%

 

[FrugalRefiner]

Nice job!

Dave

 

[rickzeien]

Nice setup.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[nickvc]

Very ingenious well done.
I would suggest a cover for it when running as the last thing you need is concentrated sulphuric splashing onto you :shock:

 

[g_axelsson]

Nice setup!

I agree with Nick, a lid would also cut down on water absorption from the air.

Have you seen the old thread about a tumbler cell?
http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5092

Göran

 

[kadriver]

That's a nice contraption. You can put the stuff in and just let it run. Nice job.

kadriver

 

[francisco rodriguez]

Hello everyone, a question: The plastic basket and the container, normal welded steel? Thank you very much.

Paco

 

[Bertho]

Göran wrote:
I agree with Nick, a lid would also cut down on water absorption from the air.
Have you seen the old thread about a tumbler cell?
http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/vie ... =40&t=5092
Göran
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It runs slowly, about a turn in 3-4 seconds so there was not any splashing.
I initially ran it outdoors in Florida and had a problem with humidity and running it too long time.
For the final setup I ran it in an conditioned room in a fume hood.
I have seen several similar setups and an old patent too so it is nothing new.
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francisco rodriguez Wrote:
The plastic basket and the container, normal welded steel? Thank you very much.
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The tank and the basket are all solvent welded PVC. A copper shaft and a lead cathode.
Bertho