Editor’s Note
This article describes a viral trend of extracting gold from electronic waste. While the process highlights the valuable materials in common devices, we remind readers that such chemical extraction involves hazardous substances and should only be attempted by professionals in controlled environments.
Amid record-high international gold prices, a story from China about a man who extracted gold from discarded SIM cards and earned tens of millions of won has become a hot topic.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 1st (local time), a man named Cao (pseudonym) from Huizhou, Guangdong Province in southeastern China recently released a video showing the process of refining gold from used SIM cards and communication electronic waste. The video surpassed 5 million views within ten days of its release.
In the video, Cao soaked used SIM cards and electronic components in a chemical solution, going through processes of corrosion, replacement, and heating to extract residue containing gold. After filtration and additional heating, he reportedly obtained about 191g (approximately 50 don) of gold, valued at around 200,000 yuan (approximately 42 million won).
However, experts questioned the realism of the figures. Typically, the amount of gold contained in a single SIM card is less than 0.001g, meaning hundreds of thousands of cards would be needed to obtain over 190g of gold.
As controversy spread, Cao clarified:
He added, “The core components of SIM cards use gold plating for stability and corrosion resistance.”
Cao’s video caused a significant stir in Chinese online communities, earning him the nickname ‘alchemist’. Some netizens reacted with comments like, “I regret throwing away old computer chips,” or “It’s difficult to follow without professional knowledge.”
As the video spread, a buying frenzy for used SIM cards erupted on Chinese second-hand trading platforms. Bundled SIM card products promoted as ‘alchemy materials’ received over 10,000 views, and sets including gold refining tools and instructional videos sold thousands of units.
However, Cao warned against indiscriminate imitation:
