Abstract
The electrochemical behaviour of a gold-plated connector from electronic scrap in aqueous thiourea solution has been investigated. An attempt was made to recover gold from scrap in a nontoxic thiourea medium by an electrochemical method rather than the traditional cyanide process. Linear sweep voltammetry indicated that thiourea extraction of gold is more efficient in acidic solution than in neutral and alkaline. Hydrochloric acid is preferable to control the pH of the solutions; the optimum concentration of thiourea is 2.5% (0.33 m). Analysis of voltammetric data yielded a critical potential (0.40 V vs SCE), which is the upper limit for significant extraction of gold from scrap. Higher potentials should be avoided in practice to prevent decomposition of thiourea and its passivation of the scrap. Electrolysis at constant potential indicated that gold was extracted selectively in the range 0.20–0.30 V vs SCE. Electrolysis at potentials either less than 0.15 V vs SCE or greater than 0.40 V vs SCE is not recommended, because of slow dissolution in the former and severe passivation in the latter.
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