There may be a household appliance in your home that contains gold.
There may be household appliances in your home that contain gold.
In many homes, there is 22-carat gold, without the owners suspecting it. This valuable metal is present in a very common domestic appliance used in the kitchen and is employed for its unique properties, which make it indispensable in the electronics industry.
Currently, various devices contain small amounts of this material to improve electrical conductivity and wear resistance. In addition, through special chemical processes, it is possible to extract it and obtain economic benefits from devices that are no longer in use.
This household appliance contains 22-carat gold: which one exactly?
The microwave oven is one of the most common household appliances containing 22-carat gold, with a purity of approximately 91.6%.
This metal is mainly found in the control board circuits in small quantities, which require complex technical procedures for extraction.
Why is 22-carat gold used in household appliances?
Gold is used in the electronics industry thanks to its excellent characteristics:
- High electrical conductivity: allows current to flow unimpeded.
- Corrosion resistance: it does not oxidise, even in humid environments.
- Low resistance: it reduces energy losses in the form of heat.
- Plasticity and malleability: it can be moulded into fine wires or sheets for detailed designs.
These properties explain why gold is present in various devices that are used daily in the home.
What other household appliances contain gold?
In addition to microwave ovens, other appliances contain gold in their internal components:
- Televisions and monitors: in their internal connectors.
- Mobile phones and computers: in motherboards and chips.
- Air conditioners and refrigerators: in some electrical connections.
- Cameras: in battery contacts and data transfer connectors.
How to extract gold from household appliances
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories have developed an innovative method for extracting gold from obsolete devices. The technique, published in the journal Advanced Materials, uses serum to create amyloid fibrils which, under certain conditions, become aerogels capable of attracting and retaining metals from electronic circuits.
From 20 old computer motherboards, they managed to obtain a 22-carat gold ingot weighing 450 milligrams, demonstrating the economic potential of this method.
What does 22-carat gold mean?
Pure gold is 24 carats, which corresponds to 100% purity. 22-carat gold contains 22 parts gold and two parts other metals, such as copper or silver, which gives it greater strength and durability without losing value. In percentage terms, 22 carats represent approximately 91.6% purity.
