Beginner Gold Recovery & Refining System
Recovers pure gold powder ready for melting
Gold Recovery & Refining Kit Guide
Before You Begin
This kit contains strong acids and reactive chemicals. Use only with proper ventilation, chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, protective clothing, and appropriate lab-safe containers. This kit is intended for adults with an understanding of chemical safety.
Never mix chemicals casually. Never work indoors without active chemical ventilation. Never inhale fumes. Keep all chemicals away from children, pets, flames, food, and household surfaces.
What Each Item Is Used For
Nitric Acid 69.8%
Nitric acid is used as part of the dissolution stage when properly combined in a controlled refining process. It helps create a reactive acid system capable of dissolving gold-bearing material.
Use only in proper chemical glassware and only with adequate ventilation. Nitric acid can produce dangerous fumes and can react violently with incompatible materials.
Hydrochloric Acid 31%
Hydrochloric acid is used with nitric acid during the dissolution stage. It provides the chloride component needed in traditional aqua regia chemistry.
Hydrochloric acid is corrosive and produces strong fumes. Keep the container closed when not in use.
Borosilicate Beaker
The borosilicate beaker is used as the main reaction vessel for acid-resistant laboratory work. Do not use household glass, metal bowls, plastic food containers, or aluminum containers.
Inspect the beaker before each use. Do not use if cracked, chipped, or damaged.
Magnetic Stirrer Hot Plate
The magnetic stirrer provides controlled mixing during laboratory processing. The hot plate function should only be used when appropriate for the process being performed and with extreme caution.
Do not overheat acid mixtures. Do not leave the stirrer unattended.
PTFE Magnetic Stir Bar
The stir bar sits inside the beaker and rotates when the magnetic stirrer is turned on. It helps keep the solution moving evenly.
Rinse and clean after use. Do not use damaged stir bars.
Stannous Chloride Gold Test Solution
Stannous chloride is used to test whether dissolved gold is present in solution. It is a confirmation tool, not a recovery chemical.
A positive test indicates gold may be present in solution. A negative test may mean the gold is not dissolved, is too dilute, or the test solution is no longer fresh.
Vacuum Filter Flask
The vacuum flask is used with the Buchner funnel to speed filtration and separate insoluble solids from liquid solution.
Use only with compatible vacuum equipment. Do not use cracked glassware. Do not apply excessive vacuum pressure.
Buchner Funnel
The Buchner funnel holds the filter paper during vacuum filtration. It allows solids to stay on the paper while filtered liquid passes into the flask.
Use with correctly sized filter paper. Make sure the paper is seated properly before filtration.
Filter Papers
Filter papers are used to capture undissolved solids, debris, and recovered powder depending on the stage of the process.
Use fresh paper when switching stages. Do not reuse contaminated filter paper.
Urea
Urea may be used in some refining workflows to help reduce excess nitric activity before precipitation. It should be added only according to a validated refining procedure.
Overuse or misuse can interfere with results, so it should not be treated as a general neutralizer.
Sulfamic Acid
Sulfamic acid is commonly used in refining workflows as a more controlled de-nox option than urea. It may help reduce excess nitric activity before gold recovery.
It should be used only in appropriate conditions and with proper ventilation.
Sodium Metabisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite is the gold precipitant included in the kit. It is used after gold has been dissolved, filtered, and properly prepared for recovery.
When used correctly, it causes dissolved gold to drop out of solution as brown powder.
Ceramic Drying Dish
The ceramic dish is used to hold recovered wet gold powder during drying.
Use low, controlled drying conditions. Do not use food dishes or cookware.
Borax Flux
Borax flux is used during melting to help protect and clean the melt. It is not used during the acid dissolution stage.
Melting requires separate proper equipment, including a torch or furnace, crucible, heat-resistant surface, and protective gear.
General Process Overview
Stage 1: Prepare Material
Only use appropriate gold-bearing material. Remove stones, dirt, non-metal pieces, and unnecessary contaminants before processing.
Cleaner starting material generally produces cleaner recovered gold.
Stage 2: Dissolution
The nitric acid and hydrochloric acid are used during the dissolution stage in proper laboratory glassware.
This stage produces strong fumes and must only be done with proper chemical ventilation and safety equipment.
Stage 3: Testing
The stannous chloride solution is used to confirm whether dissolved gold is present before continuing.
Testing helps avoid wasting recovery chemicals or proceeding before dissolution is complete.
Stage 4: Filtration
The Buchner funnel, filter paper, vacuum flask, and vacuum source are used to remove insoluble material from the solution.
Clearer filtered solution generally improves the recovery stage.
Stage 5: Nitric Control
Urea or sulfamic acid may be used, depending on the chosen workflow, to help reduce excess nitric activity before precipitation.
This stage is important because excess nitric can interfere with gold recovery.
Stage 6: Gold Recovery
Sodium metabisulfite is used to precipitate dissolved gold from the filtered solution.
Gold typically appears as brown powder after recovery.
Stage 7: Collecting Powder
Filter paper and the filtration setup are used again to collect the recovered powder.
The powder should be rinsed and handled carefully to avoid loss.
Stage 8: Drying
The recovered powder is transferred to the ceramic dish and dried completely before melting.
Wet powder should not be placed directly into a hot melt.
Stage 9: Melting Preparation
Once dry, the recovered gold powder may be prepared for melting using borax flux.
Melting equipment is sold separately.
Important Notes
This kit does not include melting equipment, crucibles, molds, respirators, gloves, goggles, or neutralizing supplies.
Users are responsible for understanding chemical safety, local laws, waste disposal requirements, and proper refining procedures before use.
Designed For Beginners
This system removes the confusion that most first-time refiners face. Detailed instructions included.
Instead of researching dozens of individual products and hoping they work together, everything here is selected to support a complete refining workflow.
Important Safety Information
This kit contains strong chemicals and must be used with proper ventilation and safety precautions.
Protective equipment is recommended and sold separately.
New to gold refining?
Visit our Gold Refining Learning Center for beginner-friendly guides that explain the basics of gold recovery, refining concepts, common materials found in electronics, and how precious metals are identified and evaluated.
These guides are designed to help you better understand refining processes and the tools commonly used in precious metal work.
Explore the Learning Center HERE
