curiosgeorge

Hi, I am curiosgeorge (George) and I am glad to join this website. I have been scrapping for a long time on a small basis (just sold copper yesterday for $150.) I was led to this website because I am experimenting with extracting platinum and iridium from spark plugs. If you have a lot of time on your hands, it can be done. A troy ounce of either can net you over $900. as of today. Here is my method:
1. Put plug in vise, threads down.
2. Bend curved tip up and snip tip off.
3. Tap ceramic with tool to crack it, then straighten it.
4. Use heavy duty tweezer and slide ceramic off.
5. Snip tip of wire off.
6. When you have collected a pile, soak in Muriatic Acid (paint store) with a little hydrogen peroxide (Cvs).
7. Takes a few days
8. You end up with clean platinum or iridium.
9. Keep the metals separate.
10. Be careful with the acid.
11. Lastly, this is a time consuming process that can be done between your other scrapping endeavors.
12. Oh, I calculate about 300 plugs for a troy ounce.

What do u do with the acid when it is saturated?

Hi,
I keep spent acid in a gallon pickle jar. It takes a very long time to exhaust the acid as long as you clip close to the tips. My bottle is labeled "Hydrochloric Acid with traces of Copper, Iron and Nickle" Once a year I bring this to a hazmat collection business in my area.