HOW IT WORKS | Computer Recycling | Free Documentary

Summary

This video explores the surprising value hidden in old computers, focusing on how recycling companies extract precious metals like gold, silver, and copper from outdated hardware. Components such as microprocessors and circuit boards are broken down using chemical processes to separate and collect these metals. The video highlights how gold, originally used to transmit data in computers, is repurposed for high-demand industries like dentistry and aerospace. With each ton of e-waste fetching thousands of pounds, the video showcases how recycling old computers is not just environmentally friendly but also highly profitable.

Takeaways

• 💻 Old computers can be a valuable source of precious metals, contrary to the belief that they're just waste.
• 💰 Circuit boards contain valuable metals like silver, copper, and gold, which are good conductors for electrical signals.
• 🏭 Recyclers dismantle old computers, stripping off outer casings and cables, leaving behind chips and processors.
• 🔄 Microprocessors are rich in gold, making them one of the most valuable components to recycle.
• 🧪 A mix of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid is used to separate gold from other materials, resulting in pure gold dust.
• 🪙 The gold extracted from computers is melted down into gold bullion, which has high industrial and commercial value.
• 🔥 Other metal parts from computers are melted and separated into valuable materials like gold, silver, and copper.
• ⚡ In specialized processes, copper and silver are separated from other metals through electrochemical reactions.
• 🔩 Some gold is processed into gold salts, which are then sold back to industries like the computer sector.
• 🚀 Gold is widely used not only in electronics but also in industries such as dental work and space exploration, making it highly versatile.

Q & A

What valuable materials are found in old computers?

Old computers contain precious metals like gold, silver, and copper, which are good conductors and are used in the circuitry of the devices.

Why are microprocessors considered easier to recycle compared to other computer parts?

Microprocessors are easier to recycle because the only metal they contain is gold, making the extraction process simpler.

How is gold extracted from old microprocessors?

A mix of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid is used to separate gold from the ceramics in the microprocessors. The remaining gold dust is then melted into gold bullion.

What process is used to extract copper from the mixed metal plates?

In a bath with a positive charge, the copper particles are attracted to negatively charged copper plates, where they accumulate and are then extracted.

What is done with the silver after it is extracted from the metal plates?

Silver is attracted to a steel plate in a second bath, where it forms crystals that can then be collected.

How is the remaining gold from the plates used after silver and copper are removed?

Once silver and copper are removed, the remaining gold on the plates can be melted down and used to form different shapes for various industrial uses.

What are some industries that use recycled gold from old computers?

Recycled gold is used in the computer industry to make gold salts, in dental crowns, and in the space industry for spacecraft engines.

How is gold turned into gold salts, and what are they used for?

Gold sheets are converted into gold salts by using cyanide in a sealed container. These gold salts are sold to the computer industry for use in manufacturing computer chips.

What other industrial uses of gold are highlighted in the script?

Besides computer chips, gold is used in dental work (for crowns) and in the aerospace industry (for satellites and space shuttle engines).

How profitable is recycling old computers for precious metals?

Recycling old computers can be very lucrative, as one ton of old computers can yield around £6,500 worth of precious metals. A bucket of gold salt alone can be worth nearly £47,000.