Letter 39080

Need alternative to cyanide stripping of gold  

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We presently use a Cyanide bath to strip material of gold and would like to find an alternate method which is less dangerous.

Gene Artinius
Reclamation - Manchester, NH

Hi Gene,
I have tried to use non-cyanide gold strippers in the past, with poor results. They had to be heated to a high temperature, and took forever to strip the gold. It was a good thing I got the chemicals in on trial basis. You may want to call some precious metal suppliers (for electroplating), or a reputable refiner may know of a good product they currently use. Hope you find something.

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York

Slightly acidified gold chloride as electrolytic etching solution can be used(object=anode),or aqua regia solution(if electrolytic method is not possible).

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Hello Goran,

Thanks for the input.

Gene Artinius
- Derry, NH, USA

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