how to separate gold from gold jewelry?

Question

What temperature does gold jewelry melt and do i need a kiln? How do you separate gold alloy from gold?

Answer 1

Home gold refining is an absolute non-starter. The various gold alloys have melting points ranging from about 860deg.C. up to over 1000 deg.C. (1570 deg.F. to 1850 deg.F.)The processes to remove pure gold from the alloy are mostly electrolytic and involve the use of highly dangerous cyanide chemicals and concentrated acids both of which give off potentially fatal fumes. Another fun method involves blowing chlorine gas through the molten metal which is not only poisonous but also adds flying droplets of molten gold to the equation. The cost of setting up even the smallest refining plant will far outweigh the value of any gold you may have (unless you are working as a state wide fence for all the local criminals and muggers that is). By far your best bet is to take your gold to one of the many metal dealers (look them up in your phone book) who will give you a fair price for gold by weight and according to its purity.

Answer 2

I don't know but be careful. There was a medical mystery show where a man had died of apparent suffocation and they discovered he was extracting gold from old dental fillings and inhaled mercury vapor, preventing his lungs from being able to absorb enough oxygen.