There are a lot of precious metals hidden in a personal computer. Their alloys (gold, palladium, platinum and silver) are used to make parts for fans, power supplies, motherboards, and keyboards. Some “miners” know how to extract gold from a processor and claim that one computer contains up to 30 grams of gold, which at the current exchange rate costs about 40 thousand rubles.
Reasons for use
For a long time, these metals seemed of little use to people. Their properties are very passive: they bend easily, melt at low temperatures, and wear out quickly.
Basically, gold and silver until the end of the 19th century were used only for making jewelry and accumulating capital.
But subsequently, the beneficial properties of precious metals were discovered, namely: they do not react chemically with various liquids (except ethyl alcohol), and therefore do not form oxides. At the same time, gold and silver conduct electricity well. These characteristics are in demand in the production of modern technology, as well as in medical practice.
Precious metals are widely used in modern computers and electronics
Along with rising prices for gold, silver, platinum and palladium, their consumption is not decreasing. And even on the contrary, despite the development of technology, the miniaturization of electronics and the emergence of new alloys that reduce the use of these noble metals. It is also noteworthy that the amount of high-tech equipment is constantly increasing, and its obsolescence is occurring more and more often. Not so long ago, computers became a common attribute of a successful company, soon - an organization of any size, and now they can be found in any home, and each family member has a personal one. The computer fleet is growing and being updated, and this process is still gaining momentum.
As a result, the overall consumption of precious metals by manufacturing companies around the world is constantly increasing. The annual consumption of gold by the computer industry reaches several hundred tons. Meanwhile, the world is already experiencing a shortage of not only metals and plastics, but also energy raw materials. Issues of recycling computer equipment and electronics are becoming increasingly relevant from an economic and environmental point of view. Organizations and enterprises specializing in the processing and disposal of computers and electronics are entering the market. Companies that require recycling of computer equipment do not store obsolete equipment, but turn to professional recycling companies. All over the world, conscious owners are recycling outdated and broken computers, thereby opposing the burying of precious and at the same time toxic waste into the ground. The industry involves large industrial enterprises engaged in the recovery of plastics, non-ferrous and precious metals. Recycling and recycling computers with the recovery of precious metals is no longer just a profitable undertaking, but also a necessity of today.
But, today, just to recycle an old computer you will need to spend many times more than what is obtained from the results of recycling, incl. considering the precious metals extracted from the old computer. It is important to know what can be donated, in what quantity it is accepted, in what form and in what way it is best transported. For residents of large cities, most likely these issues are not so pressing. But in some regions there are completely no specialized enterprises engaged in processing and disposal. In other words, it is necessary to consider the conditions under which the recycling process will remain profitable.
From an economic point of view, it is profitable to hand over kilograms of products. To preserve the environment, every product that is recycled and not buried in the ground is important. Outdated computers thrown into a landfill are not only discarded precious metals, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, but also non-ferrous metals in fairly large quantities. Piles of industrial waste and various electronic waste pose a real danger to the environment. This toxic waste, accumulated over the years, carries a hidden threat and poisons the soil and water.
Precious details
Gold is often used for the finest sputtering. But parts of technology that are responsible for serious calculations, processing a large range of data or reproducing high-quality sound cannot do without the unique properties of this metal.
The most “precious” parts of a computer are the processor, video card and contacts. For mining, it doesn't really matter whether they work or not. It is important that they are not magnetic. This is the main sign of the quality of the metals used.
If you decide to become a “gold miner”, it is worth knowing an important nuance. The equipment that has been produced over the past few years contains few precious metals. They have been almost completely replaced by tungsten. But old technology, especially computer technology, is richer in this regard.
How much gold is in the processor? Its quantity directly depends on which platform the equipment belongs to. Eg:
- i 486 SX, 486 DX2−80, Cyrix MII and Intel Pentium MMX contain about 4 grams;
- Cyrix Cx486, IBM 5x86C, Cyrix 6x86 and AMD - K 6−2 each have approximately 5 grams;
- in AMD, WinChip C 6- PSME 200 GA, IBM 6×86 MX PR 200 there is about 6 grams;
- i 486 TX 486 DLC and i processor have about 7 grams;
- the brown case contains 8 AMD, as well as the Intel Pentium, each containing 8 grams;
- Intel i 435 DX 4 and Intel i 486 will bring 9 grams each;
- the most “gold-bearing” is the Pentium PRO, which contains about 11.4 grams of metal.
Computer equipment released in the 90s can make its owner very rich. The gold content in processors of such models is the highest among analogues.
The same can be said about Soviet technology and electronics. Domestic engineers did not skimp on quality, so the content of precious metals in processors (for example, in X86 or X64) was also high (about 11 grams).
Which PC parts have gold?
Gold is considered an inert metal that is generally not subject to corrosion and oxidation. In addition, he is an excellent conductor. For this reason, any contact or connector or anything else is covered with it. The motherboard is the main part of any PC.
Only here is control over the interactions of any components of the technology. Its controllers with chipset chips, connectors and pins are the bulk of PC gold. A non-working motherboard is an excellent source of Au if you have a couple of dozen of them.
The processor is the main element of programs for personal devices. All computational work is entrusted to him. There are also many elements with gilding. Ordinary people are unlikely to be able to collect such a volume, but for system administrators this is not a problem. Today the parts are much thinner and lighter. This means that they contain several times less gold.
Gold legislation
Now it is clear what exactly the gold content in processors can be. It seems that it is enough to find “ancient” models and start enriching. But this is not so easy to implement.
The state was well aware of the high cost of recycled computer equipment. As a result, Law No. 41 of March 26, 1998 “On Precious Metals and Precious Stones” was adopted, which controlled the circulation of valuable metals contained in electronics.
Three years later, Instruction No. 68n appeared from the Ministry of Finance, which obligated all enterprises to hand over used computers and other equipment for scrap to special organizations. itself must keep records of precious metals and at the same time report to the state. True, officials failed to establish control over private owners in this matter.
Ordinary people already had computers in those days. But due to their high cost, they have not yet received wide distribution. Therefore, the search for old equipment may end in failure. But, if you are determined, you can try gold mining.
How does industrial metal processing and gold mining take place?
On an industrial scale, when processing old equipment (not just computer processors), the same procedure (refining) is used using acids and sodium sulfide. After the entire chemical procedure, gold has formed in the tank, which needs to be filtered. A filter is connected to the system, through which all impurities except gold sand are removed.
At a temperature of 200 degrees, gold sand is heated in a drying chamber. After 2 hours it can be melted.
If you hand over your computer for industrial recycling in order to get rich from the extracted precious metal, you cannot count on big earnings.
In total, when disassembling two computer processors: several small grains of yellow metal, selling which, at best, you can get 2 dollars in profit.
You can earn much more by selling a non-working processor unit as scrap metal.
Mining of precious metals
It is already clear how much gold is in the computer, but you also need to know how to mine it at home. Domestic “experts” recommend acquiring some materials before starting work.
First of all, you will need chemical reagents:
- hydrogen peroxide;
- hydrochloric acid.
The latter is difficult to obtain. The substance has harmful fumes, so its sale is under state control. Acid is sold only on an industrial scale to enterprises. Fortunately, this component can be replaced with citric acid, the remarkable properties of which have long been appreciated by jewelers. In addition, you will need the following tools:
- a protective respirator that will protect the lungs from harmful fumes;
- rubber gloves, which must be worn when working with reagents;
- container, preferably glass;
- clear plastic safety glasses;
- a long stick for stirring solutions.
Next, a working solution is prepared. The main thing is to maintain the correct proportions when preparing it. To two parts of hydrochloric (or citric) acid add one part of hydrogen peroxide. The mixture is gently stirred with a stick. It should take on a green tint. You can now add computer parts that contain precious metals.
The solution must be prepared correctly. It is to hydrochloric acid that hydrogen peroxide must be added, but not vice versa. Otherwise, the resulting solution will be unusable. It will not be able to provide activity to the acid.
What parts should be added to the solution? Those that supposedly contain gold, namely: processor parts, fan, contacts. After about a week, precious metals should accumulate at the bottom of the container. At the same time, the liquid is gently stirred from time to time so that it interacts more actively with gold.
A mountain of precious metals, of course, will not appear: rather, they will be small grains. The tracks on the dissolved boards will slide off, and the liquid itself will become dark. Among all this, they are looking for small particles of gold.
Now this little thing has to be pulled out of the acid. To do this, you need a funnel made of material, preferably paper. Thin coffee filters are perfect. If you had to choose regular towels, you need to carefully clean the gold from them, otherwise the metal will turn into dust. Having noticed a grain of precious metal, you need to carefully scoop it up with a ladle. The liquid is passed through a filter. As soon as she leaves, you need to clean out the gold.
You should be careful with metal: due to exposure to acid, it becomes very soft and can easily turn into dust. It is best to clean the precious material with regular vodka. To do this, gold and liquid are placed in a closed container.
How much gold is stored in equipment?
Knowledgeable people claim that three full-fledged system blocks contain as much gold as a hundredweight of rock from the mine. This is not so much, so you shouldn’t disassemble your work computer, because the cost of even one motherboard in working condition is disproportionately higher than how much gold is contained in a modern and technologically advanced motherboard.
If you have bins at home full of non-working equipment, you can extract some gold from it for a couple of dollars. It all depends on the type of equipment and its quantity. Some gold seekers report that 30 or more grams of gold have been recovered from some pieces.
To mine gold, you will need simple, readily available chemicals - hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. After purchasing them, you can mine gold.
It is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a lot of hydrochloric acid, but you can order it on the Internet. True, in most cases it is possible to deliver only large quantities (from 5 liters), but such pleasure will cost about 2 euros per liter. However, the sale of hydrochloric acid is now limited because it has harmful fumes.
Jewelers began to use citric acid to bleach gold as a substitute for hydrochloric acid, because it is harmless and costs slightly less. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at a pharmacy, preferably several bottles at a time.
Precautionary measures
The “Gold Miner” will have to work with acids. Careless handling can lead to burns not only of the hands, but of the mucous membranes of the eyes and lungs. Taking simple protective measures will prevent you from causing harm to yourself and others. Precautionary rules:
- You should wear protective equipment before starting work (respirator, gloves and goggles);
- wear a thick apron over clothing;
- stir the acid slowly and carefully;
- It is best to work outdoors or with open windows;
- the solution is placed in a place inaccessible to children and animals;
- The container must be closed with a lid.
How profitable is gold mining from computer equipment for an ordinary person? If you have old equipment at home or getting it is not a problem, then it’s worth a try. In other cases, “gold mining” turns into a dubious enterprise, not worth the effort.
Let's start mining gold
To extract gold (except for acids) we will need:
- Glass jar;
- Rubberized gloves;
- Respirator;
- Safety glasses;
- Measuring plastic or glass cup;
- Plastic stick for stirring.
First, let’s mix a mixture of our ingredients, but don’t be lazy to read additional literature on chemistry, because an incorrectly prepared cocktail of peroxide and hydrochloric acid can have a sad effect.
We put on a respirator, goggles and gloves; a rubber apron, a mask, or, better yet, specialized clothing for chemists would be very useful. The mixture is strongly recommended to be prepared in an online casino for real money with withdrawal to a card in an open, ventilated area. When we open a bottle of acid, smoke that is very harmful to humans will come out of it as a result of the connection with the air. That is why work must be carried out in open areas in compliance with safety measures.
Acid and peroxide are mixed in proportions of 2 to 1 (two parts acid and one part peroxide). It is very important to pour the acid into the hydrogen peroxide; if you do this procedure the other way around, the reaction may lead to the release of liquid.
The components must be poured very slowly so that the solution mixes evenly. The resulting mixture should then be stirred with a plastic stick. The resulting solution should be greenish in color.
Why do you need to recycle equipment?
Gold from motherboards is now mined by many owners of old computers. There are also a large number of enterprises in the world that recycle parts of old gadgets. This procedure allows not only to extract precious metals from equipment, but also to take care of the environment. The thing is that the components of gadgets contain not only precious metals, but also toxic substances, which, if not processed, can cause irreparable harm to the environment.
As for precious metal extracted from equipment, he must first of all become familiar with the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, since the illegal sale of gold is prosecuted by law.
How much do palladium and platinum cost, and why are they needed?
Radio components containing precious metals often contain palladium. For many, this representative is not as well known as gold, silver and even platinum, but despite this it has a wide range of applications: industry, medicine, electrical engineering, jewelry. The material is used in the production of ceramic capacitors, commemorative coins, white gold, and medicines used in the fight against cancer. Palladium acts as a catalyst in the process of fat refining and oil refining.
The metal is contained in capacitors, resistors, and connectors. It is quite difficult to visually distinguish palladium from platinum; this requires placing the sample in nitric acid. If the element has dissolved, it is Palladium, which today costs more than platinum and gold.
Sell chips
Platinum can be placed in second place in price after palladium. This element belongs to the group of rare metals with a high level of value. It is used in aircraft and shipbuilding, the chemical industry, medicine, and glass production. Platinum is also an investment asset, which is cast into bars and stored in banks. Platina is found in relays, capacitors, and microcircuits.
Metal processing
It was said above that at the end of the etching process, it is necessary to add borax and soda to the resulting metal. The use of these substances makes it possible to eliminate material loss at the next stage of processing and achieve a beautiful shine that the finished ingot will emit.
Next, the resulting mixture is placed in a crucible and heated using a muffle furnace or burner. The crucible itself must have a small spout through which molten metal is poured into special molds.
When processing the resulting gold, it is necessary to use steel or cast iron products.
In addition, during the casting process it is necessary to ensure that the metal flows in a thin and continuous stream. At the end, the gold should cool to room temperature. Only after this can the casting mold be disassembled.
The result is a material with a rough surface. Now it needs to be processed and given the desired look. Polishing of the material is carried out using special pastes and soft rags. For this, for example, felt and toothpaste are suitable.
How to extract radio components with precious metals from the system unit
Precious metals in the system unit are distinguished by a large number of additional impurities and, after extraction, will most likely require special cleaning. Extracting metal from parts is a complex and unsafe process that is best left to professionals. During extraction, acids and other chemical elements are used that are dangerous to human health and even life.
From all of the above, one conclusion can be drawn - old system units contain a lot of useful things.
If a person does not have the skills to independently mine metals and the time to acquire this knowledge and skills, then he can always sell parts or a system unit to companies that buy such valuable “junk.” This will help you get rid of stale junk and get a good reward for it. ◄ Back to news
