CPU-Processor Gold Recovery

CPU gold recovery can be done in many ways. Some people crush the whole CPU into powder and then separate the metals from the powder through density separation. But in my opinion, this is not the best way because you have precious metals lost in it. CPUs contain gold, palladium, silver, etc. People normally think that you get only gold from the processors. It is not true. If you look at them closely, you will see MLCCs on them. MLCCs (Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors) contain palladium, silver, and gold.

So, the best gold recovery method for CPUs and processors is to recover gold through aqua regia. You should first remove MLCCs from the processors and store these small capacitors safely for silver, gold, and palladium recovery in the future when they are in enough quantity. Now break the processors into smaller pieces with a hammer. Prepare the aqua regia solution. The aqua regia solution is one part nitric acid and three parts hydrochloric acid. You should use a heat-resistant glass pot for it. First, put the broken processors into the pot, and now pour some aqua regia into the pot. Aqua regia solution will start dissolving pins, including gold. Do it in an open space or a properly ventilated room, and use safety gear.

Separate the solution from the solids after the reaction has stopped completely. Now you need to neutralise this gold-bearing aqua regia solution. And, for this, you may use urea. Add some urea to the solution, and there will be a lot of fizzing. There will be lots of foam. After some time, the foam will disappear. Again, add some more urea to the solution. The foam will form on the surface and subside quickly. Keep repeating it till the foam starts taking longer to subside. Stop adding urea to the solution when foams take too long to subside. Now your solution is neutralized. Filter this solution and recover your gold with sodium metabisulfite (SMB).

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