Recently, a video of "a man using a SIM card to refine 191 grams of gold" sparked heated discussion on the Internet.The man used a pile of SIM card chip waste and, after a series of complicated processes, successfully produced 191.73 grams of gold, which is worth more than 120,000 yuan based on the current gold price.
Although the SIM card is small, key parts such as the connection between the chip pins and the circuit board are gold-plated to ensure good conductivity and oxidation resistance.
Although a single SIM card contains very little gold (about 0.006–0.01 mg), it still has economic value after large-scale centralized recycling.
It should be noted that the entire purification process takes several weeks and involves steps such as strong acid dissolution and electrolytic reduction.
Gold can be obtained through cleaning, acid addition, dissolution, filtration, and purification. This series of operations requires professional equipment and protective measures. Individuals must not imitate such operations.
In addition to trace amounts of gold, SIM cards also contain toxic and harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, brominated flame retardants, and the refining process must use highly corrosive chemical reagents. Handling in a non-professional environment can easily cause environmental pollution and personal injury.
In addition to SIM card chips, bank card chips, various IC cards, electronic components, communication equipment contacts, etc. in daily life and industrial scenarios are also recyclable gold-containing waste.
However, the professional recycling and refining of these waste materials need to be carried out by enterprises with corresponding qualifications and in compliance with environmental protection and safety regulations.