No passwords, No popups, No cost, No AI:
we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases, making the site possible

Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989

-----

Removing cobalt from hard gold dragouts

Q. Is there is a method to removing cobalt from Hard gold dragouts, and 14K drags before gold removal. The precious metal reclaimer that I deal with has told me that it is easier to analyze gold content and reclaim the gold, whether it be on a bug or in solution, if there is no cobalt present. Thanks for any help you can give me.

John Guillard
- Anoka, Minnesota
May 2, 2012

A. Hello John,
This is a new one on me. Gold bugs and resin columns have been used for decades and I haven't heard of a refiner that had a problem with a small amount of brighteners present. The gold can be determined easily either way. Cobalt concentrations in hard acid Au baths are only around 0.50% and even less in drag-out rinses. Even if it was an issue, who has the time these days to drop out, tie up, or separate a small amount of alloy from Au?

Mark Baker
Engineering - Mesa, Arizona, USA
May 8, 2012

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: