Many devices that everyone has at home and that are often thrown away contain gold. With gold prices reaching record highs, scrap dealers are now in constant search of these devices.
As technological devices are increasing in number every day, iIt has been discovered that many of them, often thrown away or given to scrap dealers in exchange for a few coins, actually contain 22 carat gold. The motherboards of computers and smartphones that everyone has at home and that are often thrown away because of malfunctions or lack of updates actually contain a small loot.
For example, some phone repairers make a living from discarded devices, thanks to connectors on computer motherboards and phones that are gold-plated. “Motherboards are found in most electronic systems, and 99% of the alloys you see gold are gold,” says a scrap dealer. He learned this trade from a man who bought motherboards by the kilo. “I had a lot of faulty phones. I spent about a week removing their motherboards. Then I looked online how to extract the gold from those motherboards. You have to pour them into an iron can filled with of acid. All the motherboards have dissolved and the gold is rising to the surface.
It is not possible for a person to extract gold himself, a special alloy is needed and it is dangerous. This gold is not only found in smartphones and computers, but also in many electronic devices because it is an excellent conductor. For this reason, it is advisable not to throw these devices away or sell them cheaply to scrap metal dealers, but rather sell them to specialist recyclers.
Indeed, these recyclers will give you a better price for your devices and above all, they will prevent worthless plastic parts from being thrown into the environment. Motherboards contain substances that are harmful to the environment, including heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. They also contain potentially toxic brominated flame retardants. Landfilling or improper disposal can lead to environmental contamination.