E-scrapping refining

**Knofan** · 04-22-2017, 11:29 PM

Hi all!

I had an idea that it should be possible to grid down Electronic boards, PCBs, processors and ram to smaller pcs (very small pcs, about an mm). And then sort it on a based on density (i saw a video on this with a shaker table). Then you have a mass of lots of different metals like gold, silver, copper. And also solder i guess.

Does anyone have tried to separate metals like this?

Thanks alot

/H

**auminer** · 04-23-2017, 07:18 AM

You could probably do that. But then, who is going to buy your heavy mystery dust?

**miked** · 04-23-2017, 08:13 AM

There is another forum that deals with your question. I'm not certain I can leave a link to that forum and be in compliance with this forum rules but I will give it a try.

Gold Refining Forum.com - Index page

This is the place to discuss refining of pm's.

I suggest you look for a place to sell your material before you spend a lot of time collecting and doing all the other stuff. If you don't have a market 73, Mike

**Knofan** · 04-23-2017, 09:07 AM

Thank you for the answers.

Well auminer, you are right. Nobody would wanna buy that

The idea is to grid it down, separate the heavy stuff from the unwanted. Then refine it using other methods.

Im thinking using chemicals to refine, gold, iron, copper, silver, aluminum, lead and tin (lead and tin are the components of solder) and if possible also try and collect neodyn. Im not sure if the best way is to grid harddrives that way but i guess a little research will give me the answer.

Since im not a chemist i really need help with that. The fumes can be deadly and the wrong mixture as well. But that is for another forum.

I will start by looking at equipment that will grind and sort the material. I really would like to sort it without water but perhaps that is impossible?

**Hurrikane** · 04-28-2017, 07:01 AM

I've seen a video of this when I was looking to do the same. Settle down, no chemicals involved.

**Hurrikane** · 04-28-2017, 07:06 AM

There are others from the same company running the hammer mill.

**Knofan** · 04-29-2017, 02:53 PM

Hi Hurrikane, i have seen this. I got the idea behind it. But as it looks you get only the "metalpart" out of the bords. Not the metals separated. So you end up with a mass of very small metal particals blended with eachother. I expect it to be, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper and other PMs. For me to be able to sort them out i need (probl) Chemicals.

One way is Electrolysis, im looking into this now.

**miked** · 04-29-2017, 09:13 PM

Go to the gold refining forum for answers on these issues. Mike

**alloy2** · 04-29-2017, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Knofan

Thank you for the answers.

Well auminer, you are right. Nobody would wanna buy that

With the combination of metals you'll recover from hammer milled circuit boards, electro-refining won't work. You have a long ways to go Grasshopper.

Bag house dust from the refinery equates to the same mix of metals, I presume you've heard of assay and know its meaning and what having one done by a professional laboratory is going to tell you at the end of the day.

If your assay comes back positive for any of the precious metals in sufficient quantity, there's always someone who will purchase or toll refine for you.

The gold refining forum as suggested is by far your best resource for learning, just don't ask stupid questions before reading Hokes Refining Precious Metals Wastes a free download form the gold forum.

Here's a link to the download.

Screen Readable Copy of Hoke's Book

For the more superior book Ammens, Recovery and Refining Book, your going to have to shell out some cash as the book is still covered by copyright. Ammens touches basis on electro refining and gives basic formulas for electrolytes..

**Breakage** · 05-01-2017, 09:34 PM

Don't some of those metals spark in a grinder? Wouldn't the dust be highly toxic? It really just seems like a lot more work than, say, cramming stuff in a FedEx box and checking your email.