Refining scrap gold is becoming one of the quickest ways to make extra cash. Gold can be found in places you would least expect, including computer chips, spoons, forks, dental work and, most commonly, jewelry. According to Bloomberg, gold rose 15 percent in 2010, and is heading for its 10th consecutive annual gain, the longest sustained rise since 1920. Refining gold can be done easily, using a few basic techniques, which reduce it to its purest form.
Instructions
- 1
Gather all the scrap gold that you want to refine and place it in a thick plastic container. Put on a pair of protective eyeglasses and gloves.
2Pour one part nitric acid, three parts hydrochloric acid and one part warm water in the bucket. Be sure to do this outdoors to avoid inhaling the fumes.
3Leave the scrap gold in the solution for 30 minutes or more. As the solution starts to dissolve the gold, it will become hot and produce brown fumes.
4Let the fumes disappear for at least one hour. Pour the solution into another container, making sure to pour it through a filter funnel to prevent contamination of the gold.
5Add 1 lb. of proto-sulphate of iron and pour 1 qt. of hot water to the bucket slowly. The mixture will start to foam. After the solution stops foaming and settles, it should look like brown powder.
6Add 1 qt. of hot water to the bucket and allow the scrap gold to refine for 30 minutes. The solution should have a muddy brown appearance.
7Pour off the solution using a filter, then give the gold a final rinse using distilled water. Place the gold, which should have a muddy appearance, into a Pyrex beaker. Place it on a hot plate to dry until it becomes a block of gold.
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