Aqua Regia Question

[Frank D.]

Hey everyone,
I was wondering if there is a certain working temperature for maximum results using aqua regia for gold recovery? Will it still have good results outdoors in cold temperatures?

 

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[Oakview2]

Gold Refining Forum.com • Index page

 

[Frank D.]

Thanks Oakview, I'll check it out

 

[aussco999]

Jayrock:

Normally, AR is heated slightly for better gold leaching. At lower temperatures, the leaching process slows down dramatically and is very inefficient below 40 F. You will often see that platinum is leached in cold AR, but that doesn't mean putting ice cubes in the leach. It means "unheated" at ambient (70F) temperatures. Also, dropping the leach temperature below 40 F can sometimes cause spontaneous precipitation of the lessor metals/minerals, causing filtration problems. So, to answer your question, if you set your AR leach outside in the cold, it may not be ready until the sunny warm days of springtime and with the short shelf-life of AR, maybe never. You need to heat it up in a well vented area.

Good luck and be careful,

John

 

[Frank D.]

Thanks very much John. Thats exactly what I needed to know. Much appreciated!

 

[Dustedyou]

Ive used Aqua Regia for a while now.. It really depends on the Rock type and other minerals in it to make it work well. But a Crock Pot helps... It gets to about the perfect temp.. use Plastic not Glass in it ! and do a TON of research on AR (not Utube) before attempting it..

 

[Frank D.]

Haha. I agree with you about the youtube videos Dustedyou. I will definately do alot of research about the Aqua Regia before I even get the stuff. Have you ever tried the clorox leaching? I read something about that too.

 

[Dustedyou]

Haha. I agree with you about the youtube videos Dustedyou. I will definately do alot of research about the Aqua Regia before I even get the stuff. Have you ever tried the clorox leaching? I read something about that too.

Ya I've tried it. Best mix for aqua regia has been nitric HCl 1/4 mixture as usual but add a cup of bleach ( no reaction with the acids) to get those extra chlorine atoms. It'll help immensely. And a crock pot with plastic ((I use 1gallon pickle or pretzel jars..(peanut butter))) works very well for 2 to 3 runs before they warp and get thrown away. As for the platinum oxalate acid works well.. after distilling out your gold let the leftover MiX sit and evaporate out till you have 20 lbs of concentrated crystals then reconstitute with the oxalate acid.

 

[Frank D.]

Thanks Dustedyou. I gotta read up on the oxalate acid. I may want to get some of that also. Also found a crock pot in the basement where my old lady hordes her culinary stuff. She looked at me funny when I asked her if I could have it. It's a good thing she has one in the kitchen also. haha

 

[Dustedyou]

lol yup took my wifes old one too...lmao