A viral "gold refining" video has recently gained significant traction online. In the footage, a content creator demonstrates a complex multi-step process of extracting over 190 grams of gold from a pile of discarded SIM cards and electronic chips. If true, this small gold nugget would be worth more than 200,000 yuan at current gold prices. Furthermore, some online influencers have claimed that each SIM card contains 0.02 grams of gold! What is the actual truth?
Today, a report cited Mr. Lin, a long-time professional in the precious metal recycling industry, who stated that extracting 0.02 milligrams of gold from a commonly used Nano-SIM card would be considered a good yield. This figure is a staggering 1,000 times less than the amount circulating online.
With the "gold refining" video going viral, can SIM cards genuinely yield gold? In one popular video, the creator "Hakka Gold Refiner Yi Qiao" stands before a mountain of electronic waste, placing metal pieces resembling SIM cards into a large barrel. After a series of operations, he extracts 191.73 grams of gold. Some short-video analysts even claimed that each SIM card contains 0.02 grams of gold. Other influencers exaggerated further, suggesting that a single credit card chip contains 0.2 grams of gold.
Amid the growing public discussion, the creator later clarified that he used two tons of raw materials for the refining process, which were not fully shown in the video. He also emphasized that the materials were not solely SIM cards or credit card chips but a collection of electronic chip waste rich in gold plating.
Mr. Lin, the industry professional, explained that the precious metal recycling sector is highly mature, with gold plating commonly found on items ranging from SIM cards to keyboards and various electronic devices. However, he pointed out that some online claims contain fundamental factual errors. Compared to the assertion of 0.02 grams per SIM card, extracting 0.02 milligrams from a modern Nano-SIM card is already a considerable achievement, making the online estimate off by a factor of 1,000.
Gold is added to SIM cards and other components to protect circuits from oxidation. Mr. Lin himself has posted gold-refining videos on short-video platforms. In one instance, he used over 9,700 grams of old-style SIM cards and discarded IC cards to refine 1.93 grams of gold, averaging 0.1 milligrams of gold per gram of SIM card. He also noted that the cost of collecting these cards is exceptionally high. Why is gold present in SIM cards? Experts explain that incorporating gold into SIM cards and electronic devices is not a "luxurious" practice but a necessary measure to combat physical laws.
Dr. Sun Yafei, a Chemistry Ph.D. from Tsinghua University and a science writer, elaborated: "In some electronic products, circuits are made from copper wires or copper contact surfaces. Over time, copper oxidizes when exposed to water and carbon dioxide, forming non-conductive copper oxides or patina, which degrades performance. For instance, a connection that should conduct electricity may fail. To minimize such failures, a metal that prevents copper oxidation is required. Gold is an ideal choice because it does not corrode under normal conditions and is needed only in minimal quantities."
For ordinary individuals, "gold refining" offers no profit and crosses legal boundaries. Experts note that gold is commonly used in many digital products, including mobile phones. While electronic waste holds value for large-scale recycling and reuse due to the cumulative effect, it offers no profit margin for ordinary people and involves significant legal risks.
The video previously showed various colored chemical solutions and swirling smoke. What may appear as a fascinating chemistry experiment is, in the eyes of experts, fraught with danger. The most common method for extracting gold from electronic waste involves using "aqua regia"—a highly corrosive mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. This process demands extensive professional knowledge from the operator, and attempting it independently also crosses clear legal red lines.
Dr. Sun Yafei further cautioned, "Ordinary individuals lack the necessary conditions because the required raw materials must be registered with the public security bureau. Substances like nitric acid and hydrochloric acid cannot be bought or sold without legitimate reasons. Once mixed into aqua regia, this solution can dissolve gold."
Moreover, the exhaust gases and waste liquids generated during the process, if discharged without professional treatment, can cause irreversible environmental pollution.
Mr. Lin explained that companies must possess a "Hazardous Waste Operation License" to operate legally and are subject to regular inspections. From a cost perspective, profitability is only feasible through large-scale refining operations.
Mr. Lin stated, "The process involves environmentally friendly carbonization treatment and incineration to break down organic matter and plastic fibers. Other metals are then recovered using special techniques, and the gold plating is refined for reuse. This is actually a very costly process. For ordinary people, handling one or two kilograms of material, or even one to two thousand cards, is utterly insignificant."
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