From Trash to Treasure: Man Extracts 191 Grams of Gold from Discarded SIM Cards, Earns Rs 26 Lakh

Beijing: A person in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, China, has discovered a unique way of earning money from electronic waste. This person, known as Qiao, surprised everyone by extracting 191 grams of pure gold from the junk of old SIM cards and telecom equipment. According to the report of the South China Morning Post, the market price of this gold has been estimated at around 2 lakh yuan, i.e., around Rs 26 lakh. His video went viral on social media and has been viewed more than 50 lakh times so far.

'Can gold be extracted from electronic waste?'

Qiao works in refining precious metals by profession. He is an expert in separating gold, silver, and other precious metals from old electronic devices. In his video, he showed how old SIM cards and chips are put into a drum filled with chemical solution and put through several processes. It involves corrosion, chemical reaction, and heating. After all these processes the pure gold gets separated. In an interview given to Xiaoxiang Morning Post, he said that this gold did not come only from the SIM card. About two tons of electronic scrap had to be processed.

'Why is there gold in SIM card?'

According to technical experts, a very thin layer of gold is applied on certain parts of the SIM card. This layer provides protection from corrosion and ensures better connectivity. However, a typical SIM card only contains less than 0.001 grams of gold. For this reason, personally withdrawing gold from a SIM card is not beneficial. Qiao said that in addition to SIM cards, their process also involved bank card chips, contact parts of communication devices, and other telecom chips. Trace amounts of gold are present in all of these.

'Can anyone do this?'

On social media, people are calling Qiao an 'alchemist,' i.e., one who makes gold. Many people regretted that they threw away old electronic items. But Qiao has clearly warned that this process is extremely dangerous. It is illegal to do this work without training and a license. In many countries, including China and India, government permission is mandatory for extracting metal from electronic waste. The chemicals used in this process are extremely poisonous. Xinwenfang media reported that a dangerous acid called aqua regia is used to extract gold. If used incorrectly, poisonous gases may be released or a strong chemical reaction may occur.

'Has the demand for old SIM cards increased now?'

As soon as Qiao's video went viral, the demand for old SIM cards suddenly increased on online platforms. Some sellers are selling SIM cards in bundles and claiming that gold can be extracted from them. Some people are selling gold refining tools and video tutorials for 485 yuan, i.e., around Rs 6,000. However, experts say that without proper information and safety measures, this effort will prove harmful for both money and health. Qiao clarified that his aim was not to teach people this work but to show the recycling value of electronic waste.