A universal method of processing jewelry industry waste containing gold, silver and palladium is proposed. The technology is based on dissection of these materials in hydrochloric acid solution in the presence of environmentally friendly oxidizing agent - peroxygen. The head operation provides concentration of gold and palladium in solution, and silver - in the insoluble residue. The techniques of selective selection of gold, silver and palladium have been developed, which can be used for the preparation of jewelry alloys.
The processes occurring at nitric acid leaching of copper-electrolyte slimes are described. The influence of firing temperature and concentration of nitric acid on the degree of transition of silver and related elements into solution is investigated. Optimal modes providing high extraction of silver into solution and concentration of gold in the insoluble residue have been established.
